:00:00. > :00:38.Good morning. Today in Melbourne, it is ladies finals day and John is
:00:39. > :00:44.with me once more but the usual suspects are not there. No Serena,
:00:45. > :00:48.Maria or defending champion Victoria Azarenka. After this tournament of
:00:49. > :00:55.upsets, the final features one familiar face, Li Na, fourth grand
:00:56. > :00:57.slam final for her that she is up against Dominika Cibulkova, the
:00:58. > :01:02.petite surprise package from Slovakia. Will her giant-killing
:01:03. > :01:04.continue or will experience prevailed? Whichever way you look,
:01:05. > :01:15.this is a fascinating matchup. There is nothing special for me,
:01:16. > :01:16.just one match and one more to go. It is something beautiful, I know,
:01:17. > :01:50.it is like a dream. Well, John, she has caused a stir in
:01:51. > :01:55.Slovakia but there will be lots watching in China. The key to this
:01:56. > :01:59.match is the first time grand slam final, people react in so many
:02:00. > :02:04.different ways. That is what we don't know. We do not know how
:02:05. > :02:09.Cibulkova will react. But how impressive has she been? The last
:02:10. > :02:12.two matches, she has demolished their opponents and it looked like
:02:13. > :02:15.she was having fun out there and she wakes up, she has got the finals,
:02:16. > :02:20.that is a different ball game so we do not know how she reacts. If that
:02:21. > :02:25.is positive, she has got a decent shot. She is small, only five foot
:02:26. > :02:28.three and she has this wonderful title of being the shortest player
:02:29. > :02:33.in the top 50 although I am sure she does not like that. It is where
:02:34. > :02:38.women's players are so much taller to do so much better at that height.
:02:39. > :02:41.If you are that small, you need to be quick and she really is. The
:02:42. > :02:45.quickest player on the tour, I think. She has added things to be
:02:46. > :02:47.quick and she really is. The quickest player on the tour, I
:02:48. > :02:54.think. She has added thing similar games. She would go route one, but
:02:55. > :03:02.her coach has taught as the more, creating more in the game. This
:03:03. > :03:06.tournament, she has been brilliant. Fast during the points and between
:03:07. > :03:09.them, she does not take much time out. Let's show you how she got
:03:10. > :03:17.through to the final, it is very impressive. Against a experienced
:03:18. > :03:22.Francesca Schiavone and then she has beaten one CD player at the next,
:03:23. > :03:25.four of them ranked above her, Ria Sharapova was the big scalp, the
:03:26. > :03:32.number three seed he went out in three sets in round four. -- Maria
:03:33. > :03:34.Sharapova. We can show you how much against Agnieszka Radwanska, the
:03:35. > :03:39.highest ranked player into the last four, she could have won it but it
:03:40. > :03:43.was Cibulkova who went through and she has been talking about Marion
:03:44. > :03:48.Bartoli has been a big inspiration after her surprise win at Wimbledon
:03:49. > :03:56.last year. We are very close friends, some of the best friends. I
:03:57. > :04:00.knew that she was working so hard for it she deserved it so much and
:04:01. > :04:07.when she won it, I knew that everything is possible and it was
:04:08. > :04:12.nice. Straight after my final she came into the gym to speak to me,
:04:13. > :04:19.and we were both crying and she was so happy for me. The final of the
:04:20. > :04:23.grand slam, it will be a pretty big match in the finals or the end of
:04:24. > :04:30.the Grand Slams, everything counts. It will be a big fight for every
:04:31. > :04:36.ball. And it will be my first final so I will try to enjoy it and I am
:04:37. > :04:40.really looking forward to the match. She has been in the finals of Grand
:04:41. > :04:46.Slams many times and she has already won one so she knows how this feels.
:04:47. > :04:52.I am playing finals so it is something beautiful. It is like a
:04:53. > :04:59.dream. So I want to go out there and just play my best and do my best. In
:05:00. > :05:06.our country, it is huge. The people, and they are all cheering
:05:07. > :05:10.for me, 6 million people, so it is big. It really is big. We keep
:05:11. > :05:13.talking about the first final because she is saying all the right
:05:14. > :05:16.things, she has to treat it as just another match and she has played
:05:17. > :05:19.some great matches already but the build-up to a final is different,
:05:20. > :05:24.the whole sitting in the locker room, everybody talking to you. And
:05:25. > :05:28.you have got a couple of days to reflect on what you have done, it is
:05:29. > :05:32.almost like you wish it was the next night after you finish the
:05:33. > :05:36.semifinals. She had no nerves there, but the final is another big step. I
:05:37. > :05:41.think she will adapt well but it is just that thing, we don't know. She
:05:42. > :05:45.is really exciting now and we have seen how well she has played and it
:05:46. > :05:49.could be a good final as long as she doesn't let the first few games but
:05:50. > :05:54.away from her. They are very important. Let's look at her
:05:55. > :05:58.opponent, Li Na who is very experienced, 31 years old, and this
:05:59. > :06:05.is how she got through. She has not beaten a player ranked above her yet
:06:06. > :06:10.but her semifinal against Eugenie Bouchard, she is one of the French
:06:11. > :06:13.players tipped at major success. Last year, Li Na was talking about
:06:14. > :06:17.quitting after she lost in the second round of the French Open but
:06:18. > :06:21.she spoke to her coach, Carlos Rodriguez, they made some changes
:06:22. > :06:23.and then she got to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, the
:06:24. > :06:31.semifinals of the US Open and now here. Everybody knows what exactly
:06:32. > :06:38.you play on the court after so many years. If I didn't change, I can
:06:39. > :06:42.still keep in the top ten top 20 but I cannot be the best in the world so
:06:43. > :06:48.I really want to push myself to change a bit. I think I have a good
:06:49. > :06:54.volley. The coach was telling me, I was coming in more on the Poly, I
:06:55. > :07:00.was thinking, what are you talking about? In the beginning I was
:07:01. > :07:05.thinking, "what, why? " Because I had played on the baseline for
:07:06. > :07:13.several years so why come to the net? But after that, he tried to say
:07:14. > :07:18.that the good way for me was that and I have tried it and it is not
:07:19. > :07:22.bad, especially Wimbledon last year. I was feeling that if I lost the
:07:23. > :07:28.match, at least I tried, I found something, a new thing for me. That
:07:29. > :07:32.is important, you need to keep making changes and move on and
:07:33. > :07:40.Carlos Rodriguez who worked with Justine Henin, a great coach to have
:07:41. > :07:43.in your corner. He has changed a few things in the game and she has
:07:44. > :07:46.enjoyed doing it and look at the way she is reacting. The players are
:07:47. > :07:57.ready, a big moment for this young lady.
:07:58. > :08:11.And her opponent, from China, Li Na!
:08:12. > :08:29.SUE BARKER: A big ovation for both players and Li Na, this is her third
:08:30. > :08:35.final of the Australian Open. She had a fall last year and that
:08:36. > :08:37.affected her and she is such a character, great in her press
:08:38. > :08:42.conference as she is always giving her husband a hard time. She is a
:08:43. > :08:48.real character. She is, she is a megastar. In Asia, she is huge and
:08:49. > :08:52.it is one of those things with her, you feel like if she can win another
:08:53. > :08:56.grand slam or two, she could take the next win. Without Serena
:08:57. > :09:01.Williams, there is a big gap now in the women's game and she could take
:09:02. > :09:03.that number two spot, no question. And she could challenge Serena
:09:04. > :09:07.Williams. She has said before this is not a big deal, but I don't buy
:09:08. > :09:12.that for a second, this is huge for her and she is the obvious
:09:13. > :09:18.favourite. She was downright bored and since then she has been
:09:19. > :09:22.brilliant. Suffer over, down a match point there. It does mean a lot as
:09:23. > :09:29.well and you talk about the gap that Serena is leaving, Li Na will be 32
:09:30. > :09:33.next month but it is great that she still wanted to make changes and
:09:34. > :09:37.improve. It is what Roger Federer says, you look at it and think you
:09:38. > :09:40.think they are a complete player that there is always something you
:09:41. > :09:43.can learn. It is great that she is improving all aspects of a game and
:09:44. > :09:53.mentally, she is a lot stronger. UMPIRE: We will have a photo after
:09:54. > :09:57.the coin toss. Ladies, at this stage, I don't have anything else to
:09:58. > :10:06.tell you other than have a great match, any other questions? OK,
:10:07. > :10:11.let's go. Hence, OK, here we go. -- hence. It is tales.
:10:12. > :10:19.A quick photo, ladies. SUE BARKER: There she is putting the
:10:20. > :10:22.pressure on the first time a straightaway, come on, you got to
:10:23. > :10:27.serve and throw the ball so you can see how nervous you are at the start
:10:28. > :10:31.of the match. That is very shrewd, let your opponent served, the right
:10:32. > :10:37.thing to do. A good opportunity to break. I think it is a very smart
:10:38. > :10:43.thing to do for Li Na. Li Na is not quite five foot eight and Dominika,
:10:44. > :10:48.five foot three, although some people are not she is quite that
:10:49. > :10:52.tall but looking at who has won Grand Slams at that height, the last
:10:53. > :10:59.person to win at that height was back in 1977 and only two grand slam
:11:00. > :11:05.winners in the open area, Nancy and Richie Gunter, so it shows how
:11:06. > :11:09.difficult it is to be this size against fit athletes who are much
:11:10. > :11:18.taller and stronger. The game has changed so much. With the speed of
:11:19. > :11:24.her footwork, Cibulkova, that is the big key. She is so quick, she can
:11:25. > :11:28.run down every ball. Not a bad serve, Li Na will not serve that
:11:29. > :11:35.many aces. I don't think it is a huge thing with her and Li Na, to
:11:36. > :11:41.me, as a chance to become the best in the world. I believe that. She is
:11:42. > :11:44.the next one after Serena and I think if she wins this tournament
:11:45. > :11:48.today, who knows which you can go from here? She is confident, as all
:11:49. > :11:56.the game, she is quick with a big forehand and backhand and I think
:11:57. > :12:02.her coach is very shrewd. When you look at it, it will not be Serena
:12:03. > :12:08.and Maria, they have not had great Grand Slams either, you look to
:12:09. > :12:13.where the next people are, Eugenie Bouchard, just 19, and Laura Robson
:12:14. > :12:15.we are hoping after a great run at the U.S. Open will start to make
:12:16. > :12:19.breakthroughs because we are looking for the next generation. We are,
:12:20. > :12:25.there is such an opening. You can see all the women's games go up a
:12:26. > :12:29.level. How long is Serena going to be around? The opportunity in the
:12:30. > :12:33.women's game to breakthrough is huge. You look at it and you take
:12:34. > :12:36.Serena out of the equation, there is no real favourite in these
:12:37. > :12:42.tournaments. There are ten or 12 of them who can win it and Ivanovic is
:12:43. > :12:49.looking potentially good. There are a lot of people who are potentials
:12:50. > :12:53.and it is an exciting time. That is why this is such a fascinating final
:12:54. > :13:01.because this is a chance for Dominika to make a statement. People
:13:02. > :13:04.sitting in the box including two of the greatest legends of all, Chris
:13:05. > :13:08.Abbott and Martina Navratilova, you talk about great rivalries and you
:13:09. > :13:16.don't get much bigger than that -- Chris Evert. There is flash
:13:17. > :13:19.photography in this clip. I got to the finals of the
:13:20. > :13:23.Australian Open here when I was 19 years old, the world wasn't paying
:13:24. > :13:29.attention but now there is a lot more expectation. A lot more
:13:30. > :13:33.pressure on the players but Dominika has worked very hard, she is excited
:13:34. > :13:37.to be here, he has done very well against big players on big stages,
:13:38. > :13:40.she loves it and embrace is it. She always plays her best tennis and
:13:41. > :13:44.right now she is playing her best against everybody so if she can hold
:13:45. > :13:49.her nerve, we will see a 3-set match but you still have to go with Li Na
:13:50. > :13:55.as the favourite. Cibulkova is the giant killer, nobody would have
:13:56. > :14:02.expected it. Upsetting four seeds, my question is, will her legs hold
:14:03. > :14:07.up? She has to take around three steps to everybody else's one step.
:14:08. > :14:12.Li Na will have the pressure but she has been there and she sensed as
:14:13. > :14:18.soon as all the top seeds lost, she sensed that this was her time. You
:14:19. > :14:22.never know, the intangibles are the nerves coming to the final, how they
:14:23. > :14:25.will both react. SUE BARKER: Absolutely, it is all
:14:26. > :14:30.about the nerves and when you look at Cibulkova, she has won three
:14:31. > :14:38.titles during her career, Moscow, Carlsbad and Stanford. This is such
:14:39. > :14:41.a huge jump up to come into a grand slam and she has got to try to
:14:42. > :14:47.forget that and use her again because how she has been winning
:14:48. > :14:52.here, she is such a powerful puncher of the ball. She needs to forget the
:14:53. > :14:57.occasion. That is the thing, can she? The coach will be trying to
:14:58. > :15:06.calm her down, it is the old cliche, one point com embrace it. I hope she
:15:07. > :15:11.does. She is an exciting player. Her variety has exceeded in this
:15:12. > :15:14.tournament, her confidence level has gone up, she believes she belongs
:15:15. > :15:24.now and I think she will enjoy this match and it is its -- it is a
:15:25. > :15:28.chance for her to shine. Li Na has won a grand slam but this is not
:15:29. > :15:34.Serena Williams she is facing, Li Na gets nervous in big matches as well
:15:35. > :15:39.so she has got a good shot. But the experience of Li Na is going to be
:15:40. > :15:45.key as well and it will be interesting. There are only seven
:15:46. > :15:49.women over the age of 30 who have won a grand slam and the last person
:15:50. > :15:54.to win it and Australia was Margaret Court back in 1973 so she is trying
:15:55. > :15:58.to hit the record books as well. You get a feeling though that with Li Na
:15:59. > :16:05.as you say, the fact not only has she been in grand slam finals, this
:16:06. > :16:08.is her fourth, but she has been in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, the
:16:09. > :16:15.semifinal of the US Open, she is a big occasion player. Yes, and a good
:16:16. > :16:20.record. She has got good weapons to counteract what Cibulkova will do.
:16:21. > :16:24.She is very quick. She defends well, she can hang in in these rallies,
:16:25. > :16:28.she says pretty big so there are lots of ways that she can blunt the
:16:29. > :16:34.weapons that Cibulkova will throw at her so on paper, Li Na should win
:16:35. > :16:38.this match. These first few minutes will be key. You can get in touch
:16:39. > :16:43.with us, many ways to get in touch with the team, via the website and
:16:44. > :16:50.there is the address, or you can tweet us, or you can contact us via
:16:51. > :16:53.our Facebook page. We are already for this final. It is good moment to
:16:54. > :16:58.Jonathan in the commentary box. COMMENTATOR: Good morning,
:16:59. > :17:13.everybody. The first grand slam singles final
:17:14. > :17:41.of the season. Born here in the UK but out in the
:17:42. > :17:45.mesmerising metropolis that is Melbourne, and it has been a long
:17:46. > :17:51.day of waiting for these two. For Li Na and especially, you feel, for
:17:52. > :18:07.Dominika Cibulkova. Her first grand slam final.
:18:08. > :18:11.That was definitely a chance for Li Na to create points in the opening
:18:12. > :19:25.game. Good recovery from Cibulkova in this
:19:26. > :19:29.game, three points in a row. But this could be a long match, could be
:19:30. > :19:38.a long way to go but best of three sets, the start cancer often be so
:19:39. > :19:51.crucial. -- the start cancer often be -- the start can so often be.
:19:52. > :19:59.She has never beaten Lee now in four attempts. Cibulkova has only won a
:20:00. > :20:54.single set of the nine they have played.
:20:55. > :21:01.Just about survives that forehand perilously close to the edge of the
:21:02. > :21:05.sideline. She is in that tricky situation in the first game here of
:21:06. > :21:06.wanting to play her natural game but also trying to counter those
:21:07. > :21:42.understandable nerves. Really hugging the baseline in that
:21:43. > :21:49.rally when you take the ball on early.
:21:50. > :21:55.Good court position there, just steps in, she is keeping the
:21:56. > :21:57.pressure on and she gets that just to nail that backhand behind her
:21:58. > :22:17.opponent. A sad way for the game to end. Li Na
:22:18. > :22:32.with the early break. Finalist here in 2011, losing to Kim
:22:33. > :22:36.Clijsters, went on to win the following major tournament at Roland
:22:37. > :22:44.Garros. Returned to the Melbourne final in 2012, actually lost in the
:22:45. > :22:49.fourth round in 2012, I beg your pardon, again to Kim Clijsters. Last
:22:50. > :22:59.year she made the semifinal with the dramatic match to Victoria Azarenka,
:23:00. > :23:18.and she had two falls on her ankle, Li Na.
:23:19. > :23:25.The experience of the situations counts for so much, particularly in
:23:26. > :23:30.these early stages. That was a big service game for Cibulkova. She
:23:31. > :24:18.needed to hold that, that would have settled the nerves.
:24:19. > :24:28.That was a strange shot their, didn't prepare well. Went for a
:24:29. > :24:32.difficult shot there, into the body and tried to hit the off backhand
:24:33. > :24:43.and it was not good preparation there from Li Na.
:24:44. > :25:55.Both players having trouble with the ball toss.
:25:56. > :26:00.Looks like this shot could be an important part of this match, the
:26:01. > :26:02.backhand down the line for Li Na. It is twice that she has got behind her
:26:03. > :26:44.opponent with that. This game, crucial for Cibulkova.
:26:45. > :26:48.She has to get on board here. Very easy to panic in the situations if
:26:49. > :26:53.you go down a double break in a major final. Very easy to suddenly
:26:54. > :27:04.start worrying too much and not focusing.
:27:05. > :27:36.She is just pressing too much, you can feel it.
:27:37. > :27:45.Contemplate over her best grand slam performance for her, Cibulkova. Six
:27:46. > :27:47.wins here this fortnight. She only won four matches in all of the Grand
:27:48. > :28:12.Slams put together last season. Good return. Particularly that
:28:13. > :28:15.forehand side, she comes round the ball, always goes into the middle of
:28:16. > :28:18.the box and when you have got somebody like Li Na with that
:28:19. > :28:22.forehand who is quick, she will be held to get round and hit that
:28:23. > :28:26.forehand and that could be a problem area. Not much variety of her first
:28:27. > :28:38.serve unfortunately for Cibulkova, it is a bit following a pattern.
:28:39. > :28:45.Opportunities here for Li Na to completely stamp their authority on
:28:46. > :28:50.this. That was a good opportunity. Very good, short, inside the service
:28:51. > :28:55.box, 15 - 30, just overcooked the forehand. That was the big points.
:28:56. > :29:21.-- that was a big point. There are a lot of components in
:29:22. > :29:27.this serve if you get nervous, they can go wrong. It is not a natural
:29:28. > :29:28.service motion and the ball toss is very high. Not much written in her
:29:29. > :29:40.serve. -- rhythm. Good pass. Well done, that was
:29:41. > :29:55.really well done. It was a poor approach shot from Li
:29:56. > :30:36.Na. sometimes in this game, it just
:30:37. > :30:39.takes one moment to flick the switch and sort things out and get you into
:30:40. > :30:42.a match. And you just sense with that
:30:43. > :30:46.reaction, Cibulkova knows she has close to doing that. -- she is
:30:47. > :30:51.close. She needs better first serves than
:30:52. > :31:21.that, though. Again, though, she set it up quite
:31:22. > :31:25.nicely with a much better second serve. But then she just lacked the
:31:26. > :31:32.depth on the three subsequent ground strokes. I think she knows it. And a
:31:33. > :32:10.good morning to you too. And there is the difference, Li Na
:32:11. > :32:14.is setting up these points with a greater depth, right into the
:32:15. > :32:23.corner. Doesn't necessarily win her the point on the shot, but the next
:32:24. > :32:27.one and the one after that. She is certainly taking the ball early, Li
:32:28. > :32:32.Na, on the rise, not letting her opponent settle and get into the
:32:33. > :32:55.rallies. She looks very competent. -- confident.
:32:56. > :33:01.They are a very knowledgeable crowd, the Australian crowd, and they know
:33:02. > :33:06.their tennis. They are sensing this, they know it is a big game, it's
:33:07. > :33:13.Cibulkova went then two breaks in this first set.
:33:14. > :33:18.It is a vital game in this final, they are willing her on, they want
:33:19. > :33:22.this to be a great match. The potential is there but it could also
:33:23. > :33:35.go the other way, if she goes down a double break.
:33:36. > :33:44.She is on the board, 16 minutes, it has taken her. That will mean so
:33:45. > :33:51.much for the 20th seed from Slovakia, Dominika Cibulkova, who is
:33:52. > :34:03.getting a lot of support on social media this morning. You can tweet us
:34:04. > :34:07.at BBC Sport, you can go to our face -- Facebook page. A lot of people
:34:08. > :34:12.have been talking about the fairy tale it could be, having beaten the
:34:13. > :34:15.likes of Maria Sharapova, as a renter, she beat Simona Halep as
:34:16. > :34:22.well, who was one of the stories of the tournament -- Victoria Azarenka.
:34:23. > :34:29.That was a surprising quarterfinal, Cibulkova winning 6-3, 6-0.
:34:30. > :34:37.Obviously the Sharapova match was an upset but she hadn't played much
:34:38. > :34:44.coming in, but she demolished the number four player in the world and
:34:45. > :34:47.made she -- her look like she was a novice. The level she played out in
:34:48. > :34:58.the semifinal was absolutely brilliant. She never stops moving.
:34:59. > :35:04.Lots of smiles the forehand, that was nice to see, and even when she
:35:05. > :35:14.was introduced to the ball kid who did the contest, Cibulkova shook her
:35:15. > :35:39.hand and said, "hello, I am Dominika. " "Yes, I know!".
:35:40. > :35:47.In fact, they are both very easy to chat to. Li Na is very popular off
:35:48. > :35:50.the court, often has a smile on her face, full of laughs in the
:35:51. > :35:59.interviews afterwards, which is always good fun.
:36:00. > :36:03.Annoyed at that one, she was a bit upright on that backhand. She should
:36:04. > :36:21.have made that. She just has no rhythm on her first
:36:22. > :37:04.serve at the moment. No call from the line judge there.
:37:05. > :37:26.Very quickly over ruling. That fall one that she hits down the
:37:27. > :37:35.line, it is an awesome weapon, that one. -- that full one. You can see
:37:36. > :37:39.Cibulkova guarding the backhand side and the leading that gap -- leaving
:37:40. > :38:58.that gap down the line. Getting some fortune off the net
:38:59. > :39:02.cord and then getting away with a mishit forehand. 3-1 ahead, but
:39:03. > :39:08.clearly not satisfied with her form in the early stages. She has held
:39:09. > :39:13.both served without getting a first serve him, basically. That last game
:39:14. > :42:21.was a bit erratic, but getting away with it so far.
:42:22. > :42:31.Well, it would be nice if the centre of the racket was used a little bit
:42:32. > :42:35.more in this match, but up to 25 minutes of rather erratic tennis,
:42:36. > :42:42.you do sense how important it is for Cibulkova to stay close, within one
:42:43. > :42:46.game, and that sort of reaction tells the story. You are exactly
:42:47. > :42:50.right, it has been an erratic and nervous start the both players,
:42:51. > :42:57.quite frankly, and Li Na has the break, which was kind of given,
:42:58. > :43:01.really, by Cibulkova with a double faults and after that, it has been
:43:02. > :43:05.patchy. Li Na, with so much more experience, she should be up a
:43:06. > :43:09.double break and this set should be over but as you rightly said,
:43:10. > :43:14.Cibulkova is still in this match and Li Na at the moment cannot buy a
:43:15. > :43:18.first serve, so she is not out this set. Hopefully, she will get a
:43:19. > :43:25.little bit calmer, Cibulkova, she is on the board, has held her serve
:43:26. > :43:31.twice. Then a break, but not that big a deal, middle of the first set.
:43:32. > :43:35.-- down a break. I would be surprised if Li Na doesn't work out
:43:36. > :43:45.her first serve, she cannot get one in at all. She also has a high
:43:46. > :43:47.proportion of failed ball tosses. Both of them seem to have caught the
:43:48. > :44:02.ball a number of times. The sun is still out despite the
:44:03. > :44:04.floodlights being on, but that will change. The unique setting of an
:44:05. > :44:38.evening final here in Melbourne. Much better hitting from both
:44:39. > :44:42.players during that rally. Really the first opportunity for them to
:44:43. > :44:47.extend themselves and show that athleticism around the baseline.
:44:48. > :44:51.Cibulkova there, the footwork getting to these balls when she was
:44:52. > :44:56.stretched out wide, the double quick steps that she takes, it is
:44:57. > :45:00.fantastic speed. This one, she knew she was just going to whack that
:45:01. > :46:33.one, just leaning into it, not messing around.
:46:34. > :46:45.Carlos Rodriguez, Li Na's coach, used to work with Justine Henin, so
:46:46. > :46:57.much success in that partnership over the years.
:46:58. > :47:06.The serve is not happening for her, is it? The first serve has vanished
:47:07. > :47:09.and consequently, the pressure is on her second serve. She has deleted
:47:10. > :47:16.pretty deep, otherwise she is on the back foot. -- she has two hit it.
:47:17. > :47:17.She has not settled, she is at the break but she has not been
:47:18. > :47:23.convincing. She has a Grand Slam win, but you
:47:24. > :47:40.wouldn't think it at the moment. Oh dear, oh dear. Amazing. Cibulkova
:47:41. > :47:46.is back in the final after half an hour. She did nothing to achieve
:47:47. > :47:50.it, really, two double faults. Li Na got the early break, you would have
:47:51. > :47:59.thought she would settle, she has a Grand Slam win... What does that
:48:00. > :48:24.mean, the string tension? Blame the racket. " What am I meant to do? " !
:48:25. > :48:37.It looked long. The Serb did look long, yes. -- serve.
:48:38. > :48:45.Well, they are still together, Li Na and her husband, but goodness me,
:48:46. > :48:56.she gives him a bit of grief in the tennis environment.
:48:57. > :49:03.She did so well to reach that and get a clean hit, and that crispness
:49:04. > :49:15.of the return for Cibulkova, she has found it.
:49:16. > :49:20.Not just about getting to that, but getting the clean hit, to enable you
:49:21. > :49:47.to strike your opponent's baseline. I know -- a nice one, punch. -- one,
:49:48. > :49:50.two punch. She has the natural swinging motion to get to the side
:49:51. > :50:16.of the ball but that one came to Li Na's backhand.
:50:17. > :50:37.A good time to serve one if you are going to serve one, I suppose, 40-0.
:50:38. > :50:51.Make -- making the maximum use of that slide out wide. Team Slovakia
:50:52. > :50:55.impressed that their player is in the lead. Slovakia's first grand
:50:56. > :51:13.slam finalist, certainly representing Slovakia, because
:51:14. > :51:21.Miroslav Macic in the 1980s was one of the greats. So much skill and
:51:22. > :51:31.Kraft. But certainly, for that nation, she is big in Bratislava, is
:51:32. > :51:37.she going to be big tonight? She is back in the match. Very few people
:51:38. > :51:47.are bigger in China than Li Na, and there are millions and millions and
:51:48. > :51:51.millions out there. Engaged, as you might see there, a nice little rock
:51:52. > :52:07.on the engagement finger of Dominika Cibulkova. They had been together
:52:08. > :52:11.for a few years there. Has to get that first serve going. 13%. Pouch.
:52:12. > :52:36.That is shocking. -- pouch. That is one of the things that has
:52:37. > :52:40.worked today, the backhand down the line, everything else has been
:52:41. > :52:41.suspect to say the least. But that shot, she seems to be confident on
:52:42. > :54:32.it. It is behind her opponent again. It looks like it is a lot easier for
:54:33. > :54:40.her when she gets that first serve in. That is four in a row. Maybe she
:54:41. > :54:55.caught a glimpse of the statistic. 15%!
:54:56. > :55:24.There was almost a rare sight there of serve and volley.
:55:25. > :55:35.Good play from Li Na a game, much better. -- again. Finding a little
:55:36. > :55:39.bit of consistency, which has so far eluded her. It is good for the
:55:40. > :55:45.neutral, hope you are enjoying this on this Saturday morning. Li Na will
:55:46. > :55:47.feel she should have got this first set done by now. Definitely, the way
:55:48. > :57:36.she started. On the forehand, just wish you would
:57:37. > :58:32.want it, and completely mishit that one across court.
:58:33. > :58:37.The only place where Cibulkova can really hit that ball is swerving
:58:38. > :58:43.down the middle, you don't often get it down the middle. Have to move a
:58:44. > :58:47.couple of feet to her left side, Li Na, she could be hitting big
:58:48. > :58:49.forehands, but she is alone that ball to catch her in the middle of
:58:50. > :59:02.the backhand side. Cibulkova didn't get herself in
:59:03. > :59:51.position for the next shot. Not very impressive from both
:59:52. > :00:13.players, when you look at the starts. -- statistics.
:00:14. > :00:20.So many mishits, John, including those unforced errors from Li Na. Is
:00:21. > :00:26.that a sign of the ball fizzing through the court, the speed of
:00:27. > :00:30.Cibulkova's shots? I think it is nervous. I don't think either player
:00:31. > :00:52.has resettled, even now. -- it is nerves.
:00:53. > :01:05.That is the first time Li Na has got round that second serve and the ball
:01:06. > :01:07.down the middle line. The sooner Cibulkova misses that first serve,
:01:08. > :01:12.Li Na should be running round that ball, giving her a look. She is
:01:13. > :01:28.nervous on her serve. Put some pressure on that second serve.
:01:29. > :01:36.A simple shot, really. No real difficulty there. Regulation ball to
:01:37. > :01:38.a forehand side, Li Na on break point to serve for the set. It is
:01:39. > :02:15.miles out. I suppose that is 1-1 on the let
:02:16. > :02:19.court winners. It evens itself out, but is never true though because it
:02:20. > :02:21.is when it happens in the match and that was a huge point to get a net
:02:22. > :02:33.cord on. Cibulkova is 5-4 up, don't quite
:02:34. > :02:49.know how but she is. You have to give her credit for
:02:50. > :02:52.hanging in there, she has not played particularly well, Cibulkova, but
:02:53. > :02:56.comes in, loses her opening set, very tight but she has hung in
:02:57. > :03:00.there. I don't think she has played particularly well, it has really
:03:01. > :03:05.come down to Li Na but that is not her fault, she is getting enough
:03:06. > :03:09.balls to hang in there but Li Na is the one with experience, she should
:03:10. > :03:13.be a pace that already. She is serving to stay in the set as it is
:03:14. > :03:20.and it is a very strange performance but it is quite windy out there. It
:03:21. > :03:24.is either up or down, there is no middle ground with her game at the
:03:25. > :03:27.moment. It is almost like she does not have a three quarters shot where
:03:28. > :03:32.you get the ball back in place sometimes. She is either going for
:03:33. > :03:35.it and it is spectacular or it is really poor and there are way too
:03:36. > :03:45.many errors on her side. A strange performance from her. First Grand
:03:46. > :03:53.Slam singles trophy of the 2014 season is on the line here this . It
:03:54. > :04:03.will be Nadal versus Wawrinka tomorrow. Can listen to it on Radio
:04:04. > :04:06.5 Live and it will be on BBC Two. Excellent BBC sport interactive text
:04:07. > :04:13.service which is up and running for this match and throughout the whole
:04:14. > :04:14.tournament. So now, Li Na has the challenge of serving to stay in the
:04:15. > :04:32.set. It is so good when she gets that
:04:33. > :04:38.serve going, the one, two punch. It look so easy for her on a shop like
:04:39. > :04:47.this but with her missing so many first serves but some anyway would
:04:48. > :05:36.forehand. -- so many wayward forehands.
:05:37. > :05:43.That was a disappointing return there, a huge point. A wayward error
:05:44. > :06:36.on the backhand side, big point. A fabulous return of serve there.
:06:37. > :06:38.Beautiful serve from Li Na as well. Wasn't expecting that want to come
:06:39. > :07:05.at her that quick. A bit of rhythm on that serve
:07:06. > :07:11.finally for Li Na. Wonderful arena this, the Rod Laver Arena, the
:07:12. > :07:15.centrepiece of Melbourne Park. If you love your sport, you really
:07:16. > :07:21.cannot go wrong in this part of town. You wonder out of the city
:07:22. > :07:25.centre or get the city taxi all the water taxi, and suddenly you have
:07:26. > :07:32.got the MCG, and the tennis centre here. Close proximity. The rowers
:07:33. > :08:06.going about their business, wonderful.
:08:07. > :08:21.Never really gave Li Na a chance to get settled in that rally. She was
:08:22. > :08:27.always in the heavier balls and defensive could never get her a
:08:28. > :08:46.chance to attack the ball, very good point.
:08:47. > :08:54.You feel that this match is in Li Na's hands. If she posted her
:08:55. > :08:56.capability, it is the heavier ground strokes, the bigger first serve, she
:08:57. > :10:19.is more experienced. Yes, great play. You can send it, Li
:10:20. > :10:25.Na's eyes following the point in this game. Two break points. That
:10:26. > :10:30.was a well worked point from Li Na, very solid. This was the shot that
:10:31. > :10:35.set her up, the forehand crosscourt and she stepped in early, way too
:10:36. > :11:02.much court to cover their from Cibulkova.
:11:03. > :11:10.The Chinese back in front. The problem possible cover now is that
:11:11. > :11:20.if Li Na has the consistency, she will be in big trouble. About two
:11:21. > :11:25.serve for the first set. She has settled down in that game, she
:11:26. > :11:32.constructed the points better, a more solid game but the moment we
:11:33. > :11:38.are watching, you still do know if she will serve this out because her
:11:39. > :11:41.serves have been so unpredictable. The game has been good or bad,
:11:42. > :11:45.consistency is not quite there. Maybe she has turned the corner now.
:11:46. > :11:56.We shall see in this game. An impressive break of serve though.
:11:57. > :12:00.Following tennis in China over the past few years has been interesting
:12:01. > :12:03.because when they won a couple of medals at the Athens Olympics in one
:12:04. > :12:10.of the great stories, China was going to be the next big powerhouse
:12:11. > :12:14.in the sport of tennis, and may still be because they have amazing
:12:15. > :12:16.potential with such a massive population. But looking at the
:12:17. > :12:20.statistics, they have got four players in the top 100 at the moment
:12:21. > :12:28.in the women's game, nine in the top 300, five years ago, three players
:12:29. > :12:30.in the top 108 in the top 300. So in five years, they have not made that
:12:31. > :12:41.much progress. They do have a Grand Slam champion
:12:42. > :13:18.in this lady, Li Na, though. The forehand took over in that
:13:19. > :13:29.rally. Hesitated a bit on the drive volley,
:13:30. > :13:36.at one stage, she looked pretty keen and then she backed off it and ended
:13:37. > :13:38.up taking it in the air. To get ran an hit the big forehand, good first
:13:39. > :14:35.point. -- to get round and hit. A great return of serve from
:14:36. > :14:41.Cibulkova there. The best serve that Li Na has hit out wide, excellently
:14:42. > :14:46.returned, got it back into play and get a chance for that rally. Not a
:14:47. > :15:06.very good forehand from Li Na though, complete mishit.
:15:07. > :16:07.She slipped there. On that drop shot. It looked like she regained
:16:08. > :16:12.her balance. A comfortable volley, really, and it went horribly wrong.
:16:13. > :16:16.She broke down on the wrist there. Not much confidence in that shot.
:16:17. > :16:42.Break back point. Got away with that mishit backhand
:16:43. > :16:48.there, just crept inside the line. The crosscourt could have easily
:16:49. > :16:54.gone out. That is the shot, mishit, just landed in. Able to take charge
:16:55. > :18:02.with the forehand. Bit fortunate there.
:18:03. > :18:08.A strange shop to go for on that point. A deep return into her body
:18:09. > :18:15.and she drives a clean one down the line. Whoever can string three or
:18:16. > :18:17.four good boys together at once, you feel they could be the champion all
:18:18. > :18:49.would be. Absolutely. That is what the extra depth gives
:18:50. > :18:55.you on the return. Hasn't found it enough so far in this final now,
:18:56. > :19:10.another chance to take us into a tie-break. This ball toss...
:19:11. > :19:23.And they break them, you can see the uncertainty with Li Na. She played
:19:24. > :19:30.that forehand with so much caution. She looked a bit muddled to me. Not
:19:31. > :19:31.too sure how to play this. UMPIRE: Each player will have an
:19:32. > :20:09.additional challenge. I don't know why she's not even
:20:10. > :20:13.moving further round there. That is a middle of the service box,
:20:14. > :20:49.swerving into a forehand. Should be punished almost every time.
:20:50. > :20:58.She would be lost without her backhand down the line, wouldn't
:20:59. > :21:10.she? That shot was beautiful, she is loving that shot today.
:21:11. > :21:15.That was good from Cibulkova, using all the angles and carving open the
:21:16. > :22:15.court. Fabulous point. Just took charge of
:22:16. > :22:24.the rally early on, didn't overplay. She got the chance, made
:22:25. > :22:27.sure of it. 180 as they could see to the players, ladies and gentlemen,
:22:28. > :23:02.please do not call out during the rally.
:23:03. > :23:06.It looks like a commanding lead but even now, you're still not quite
:23:07. > :23:47.sure. she played with Kim Clijsters in the
:23:48. > :23:51.forefront match she was 6-2 up in the second round tie-break, four
:23:52. > :23:56.match points and went on to lose in three. Has been involved in some
:23:57. > :24:02.terrific tussles of the women's tour in the last few years, perhaps that
:24:03. > :24:11.one in Wimbledon. Last summer, Li Na against Agnieszka Radwanska.
:24:12. > :24:19.She will be up to three in the world, what ever happens today. Very
:24:20. > :24:21.close to the world number two position. Currently held by Victoria
:24:22. > :24:41.Azarenka. She is going to challenge with
:24:42. > :24:48.Hawk-Eye. UMPIRE: The ball was called in.
:24:49. > :24:50.Always dangerous if you call off from the rally because she gets this
:24:51. > :25:09.wrong, she has lost the point. UMPIRE: 5-2, Li. A dangerous thing
:25:10. > :25:11.to do. Just to disrupt the momentum a bit in this tie-break. Can
:25:12. > :26:12.Cibulkova use that in her favour? She did well there, and it was an
:26:13. > :26:17.awkward volley. Very low. Couldn't do much with it and just pushed it
:26:18. > :26:22.up into the middle of the court but again, the speed, the sliding
:26:23. > :26:27.forehand, I would like to see that they hard court. -- see that on a
:26:28. > :26:52.hard court. To go from 5-1 to 5-3, getting
:26:53. > :26:55.twitchy for Li Na so that is a bit of a let off and gives Li three set
:26:56. > :27:27.points. Well, we have called this the Grand
:27:28. > :27:34.Slam of Asia and the Pacific for several years and they will be few
:27:35. > :27:39.more popular winners, if she can add this to her Roland Garros title of
:27:40. > :27:46.2011. One set away from doing that, Li Na. It was close, wasn't it was
:27:47. > :27:59.Jim at the quality we hope will improve but very type -- the
:28:00. > :28:05.quality, it was close, wasn't it? Behind the unforced errors,
:28:06. > :28:08.particularly with Cibulkova with 20 unforced errors, Cibulkova would
:28:09. > :28:12.want that to be fewer that you can see the mixture with Li Na, 22
:28:13. > :28:21.winners so obviously the one dictating the play but 25 unforced
:28:22. > :28:26.errors. But positives taken hopefully from both players in that
:28:27. > :28:30.set and from Li Na, she wins the first set, she is up a set, didn't
:28:31. > :28:34.play that well and she knows she can play better but for Cibulkova, the
:28:35. > :28:37.first grand slam, she was close, she knows her opponent is not playing
:28:38. > :28:42.particularly well and almost got the first set and she will be encouraged
:28:43. > :28:53.by that so the second set, this could be interesting.
:28:54. > :29:02.I like the way Carlos Rodriguez there is sitting in the box, the
:29:03. > :29:06.husband is in the front of the line so if she is playing badly, he gets
:29:07. > :29:09.the brunt of it and he can duck behind and not get that and then
:29:10. > :29:12.when she is winning, he can lean forward and shake the fist and go
:29:13. > :29:14.well done so he's in a good position, very smart.
:29:15. > :29:27.UMPIRE: Second set. So, Melbourne Park, the first grand
:29:28. > :29:35.singles final of the season, Nadal versus Wawrinka this time tomorrow
:29:36. > :30:57.live on the BBC. But right now, Li Na, one set away from the title.
:30:58. > :32:27.She has the power to take over the rally from those positions. We have
:32:28. > :32:31.seen the backhand down the line in the first set, and this time the
:32:32. > :32:39.forehand. It was a deep ball from Cibulkova but punished the. --
:32:40. > :33:12.punished. A good recovery from 0-30. She has got a great opportunity, if
:33:13. > :33:16.she can win this title, to move up the rankings. We were talking about
:33:17. > :33:20.the latter part there, the French Open is the next Grand Slam coming,
:33:21. > :33:23.it is her favourite and with Serena Williams, it being her least
:33:24. > :33:30.favourite, she could certainly take that number two spot. There is no
:33:31. > :33:34.reason why not, this year. If she wins this title, she will only be 11
:33:35. > :33:39.ranking points behind as a rancour, which is nothing. Williams will stay
:33:40. > :33:47.number one -- behind Victoria Azarenka. It could be very
:33:48. > :33:52.interesting year at the top of both men's and women's games. Wawrinka is
:33:53. > :34:06.the new Swiss number one! It take him up to number five in the
:34:07. > :34:12.men's rankings, ahead of Andy Murray, in fact, who lost a lot of
:34:13. > :35:52.ranking points by only making the quarterfinals this year.
:35:53. > :36:05.It is a well worked point a game -- again. A few flatter hits on the
:36:06. > :36:06.forehand from Li Na. There is a lot of Arc to her forehand in this match
:36:07. > :36:49.so far. That one, a lot flatter. The statistics are not being kind on
:36:50. > :36:55.that second serve. 25%, I think it was, on her second serve. You can
:36:56. > :36:59.see why, it is in the middle of the service box. She has got to up that
:37:00. > :37:13.first serve percentage, she has missed three in a row.
:37:14. > :37:24.Another break for Li Na. Cibulkova is furious.
:37:25. > :37:32.I like the way she is taking her time here, she has got the break,
:37:33. > :37:39.she is up a set, 2-0, it is a big game for Li Na, she is not rushing.
:37:40. > :37:40.If she holds this, she gets a 3-0 gap and cements this break, it puts
:37:41. > :38:32.her in a commanding position. That is why you like the height of
:38:33. > :39:53.the volley to be. -- that is where. The first serve-volley we have seen
:39:54. > :39:58.today, so at 40-0, she wasn't exactly taking a chance. We might
:39:59. > :40:04.not have seen it if it had been 35 and 30. Didn't quite enough to -- do
:40:05. > :40:19.enough with the volley, good return by Cibulkova.
:40:20. > :41:19.Dominika using all her experience, taking her time, finding a little
:41:20. > :41:25.bit of sweet timing -- Li Na using all her experience. And taking what
:41:26. > :41:29.looks like a commanding lead in the second set, having had a nervous
:41:30. > :41:34.first. Thank you for all of your text messages and tweets, get in
:41:35. > :41:39.touch with us. A lot of people talking about is nerves, is it a
:41:40. > :41:43.case of who can hold their nerve more is the question many of you are
:41:44. > :41:48.asking. The majority are saying that Li Na's experience will outshine
:41:49. > :41:54.Cibulkova in the second set. " Everything seems against Cibulkova,
:41:55. > :42:00.including the crowd and history. I admire her courage against such
:42:01. > :42:06.formidable opposition. " "This must be the most nervous I have seen two
:42:07. > :42:12.finalists, a very tense final. " That it is, but it is nothing new,
:42:13. > :42:17.nerves go back decades and centuries. Grand Slam finals, that
:42:18. > :42:20.is what it is all about you don't know how players are going to react
:42:21. > :42:25.and you would have thought Li Na, having won one, she would come out
:42:26. > :42:29.and be more relaxed, but wasn't, certainly not at the beginning. She
:42:30. > :42:35.had an early break but it was an unconvincing first serve. She looks
:42:36. > :42:39.like she has relaxed now but grand slam finals can do that to you, it
:42:40. > :42:46.doesn't matter who you are, how much experience you have, you can still
:42:47. > :42:50.get tight out there. There are only four slams a year and they mean
:42:51. > :42:54.everything to the players, it is what you work for your whole career,
:42:55. > :43:04.it doesn't matter what you have one, they are all special. -- won.
:43:05. > :43:09.UMPIRE: Cibulkova is challenging the call on the right baseline. Did you
:43:10. > :43:13.feel the nerves in your Australian Open final or did you have too much
:43:14. > :43:21.fun the night before? I am not going to comment on that.
:43:22. > :43:52.Cibulkova has done a good job so far of just hanging in there and staying
:43:53. > :43:53.with Li Na. This is really the first time there has been clear daylight
:43:54. > :44:51.on the scoreboard. That is the perfect weight.
:44:52. > :44:54.Cibulkova, her attitude, every point, it doesn't matter whether she
:44:55. > :45:12.wins or she loses, she is ready for the next one.
:45:13. > :45:19.Another one. Another backhand winner. It is the shot that looks
:45:20. > :45:20.like it could win her the title here. 15 backhand winners in the
:45:21. > :45:31.match. The form continues. 4-0, double
:45:32. > :46:22.break. Terrific stadium, this. It is not
:46:23. > :46:25.just use for tennis, they had the gymnastic say when Melbourne hosted
:46:26. > :46:26.the Commonwealth Games. Even the world swimming Championships is held
:46:27. > :46:54.inside here. 2007. What makes it unique as an arena is
:46:55. > :47:01.the first role of spectators also elevated. -- the first row. You can
:47:02. > :47:03.see the backboards behind Li Na. In other arenas, the first row is right
:47:04. > :47:25.down at court level. You wouldn't know she was down 4-0.
:47:26. > :47:29.It is great to have that sort of attitude. It is amazing how many
:47:30. > :47:34.points that can win, just bad luck that you have. It makes the life of
:47:35. > :48:01.the coach easier -- that look. Carlos Rodriguez will be happy with
:48:02. > :48:06.that, he has been trying to get Li Na to come in more. 0-30, a bit
:48:07. > :48:08.risky but it was the right tactic and he will be happy, moving up to
:48:09. > :48:58.the ball and getting into the net. The Daphne Ackhurst Memorial Cup --
:48:59. > :49:04.Akhurst. Former Australian Open champion. And Li Na, close, it
:49:05. > :49:35.seems, to being a first-time winner here in Melbourne.
:49:36. > :49:40.It is all coming together for Li Na of China, as she moves to within a
:49:41. > :49:51.single game of her second grand slam title.
:49:52. > :49:59.Just seeing that last game, the greater weight shot on the ground
:50:00. > :50:05.strokes, the penetration, six inches to a foot inside the baseline,
:50:06. > :50:10.power, the flatter of the two ground strokes, Cibulkova is more top spin,
:50:11. > :50:20.and when Li Na is in full flow, Cibulkova cannot stay with her, it
:50:21. > :50:24.is a different pace and depth. It is that little bit of extra care, you
:50:25. > :50:27.sense, on those forehands, in the last couple of games, to add to the
:50:28. > :50:34.power that has been working all day on the backhand.
:50:35. > :50:45.And experience. The code, though. -- for Cibulkova, though. Within a few
:50:46. > :50:49.places of the world's top ten. She had been to a French Open semi
:50:50. > :51:06.before, she was very young, 19, a few years ago now.
:51:07. > :51:10.Li Na's third Australian Open final in four years. Is this going to be
:51:11. > :51:23.the one? Sijsling backhand. That has been the
:51:24. > :52:56.shot, hasn't it, these finals? A smile at the good fortune, but
:52:57. > :53:22.perhaps also with a hint of resignation.
:53:23. > :53:32.Pulled up on the head with that one, just lifted it.
:53:33. > :53:48.CROWD ROARS it will move onto Flushing Meadows
:53:49. > :53:49.and Wimbledon, but Melbourne Park, the first of the season,
:53:50. > :54:30.championship points. There it is. She is the champion in
:54:31. > :54:38.Australia. A second grand slam title for Li
:54:39. > :55:10.Na. So popular here. A beaten finalist
:55:11. > :55:14.three years ago by Kim Clijsters, last year by Victoria Azarenka, but
:55:15. > :55:18.the sheer coming out on top and adding the Australian Open to her
:55:19. > :55:25.French Open crown. A thumbs up for Carlos Rodriguez and her husband,
:55:26. > :55:31.her long-suffering husband! They are all smiles in the box. Carlos
:55:32. > :55:43.Rodriguez, a champion here again after all of these years good work
:55:44. > :55:47.with Justine Henin. -- of good work. A popular winner and, who
:55:48. > :55:53.knows now, she has set this year up perfectly. Two tournaments played,
:55:54. > :55:59.two titles won, very close to becoming the world number two.
:56:00. > :56:03.Cibulkova with a chance to build, no doubt about that. Overwrought in her
:56:04. > :56:12.first grand slam final, the nerves getting on top of her. Only able to
:56:13. > :56:15.show us her best in rare glimpses. And as the lights go out, they are
:56:16. > :56:22.going to shut the roof, as they like to do here at Melbourne Park, for
:56:23. > :56:30.the showbiz affect for the presentation ceremony. -- effect.
:56:31. > :56:36.SUE BARKER: And they prepare for the presentation and that will be made
:56:37. > :56:42.by Chris Evert, a huge favourite and grand slam champion, winner of 18
:56:43. > :56:45.titles and runner-up in 16 of them. She will be on court to help with
:56:46. > :56:49.the presentation but, of course, tomorrow we look forward to the
:56:50. > :56:50.men's final, the world number one up against one of the most improved
:56:51. > :57:16.players of the last year. Well, we'll Wawrinka be celebrating
:57:17. > :57:21.tomorrow -- will? Nadal has won all of their previous meetings but he
:57:22. > :57:25.will be aware of his improved form and Stan will not be thinking about
:57:26. > :57:28.that, he has had a tremendous tournament. So Nadal against
:57:29. > :57:34.Wawrinka, that is tomorrow, live from 8:15am. And going back here, we
:57:35. > :57:42.look forward to hearing from both players, who have made such a big
:57:43. > :57:46.impact at the Championships. Cibulkova, and also Li Na, and we
:57:47. > :57:50.know that will be a very entertaining speech, she is such a
:57:51. > :57:53.character in her press conferences and it is going to be such a big
:57:54. > :57:58.story back in China and around the world. When she won the French Open
:57:59. > :58:03.in 2011, she signed so many deals, John Lloyd, she was signing
:58:04. > :58:07.endorsements for $42 million, she is such a hot property in China. She
:58:08. > :58:11.is, and I think this time she will handle it a lot better. She said
:58:12. > :58:14.after she won the French, she was so inundated with what was happening,
:58:15. > :58:19.she couldn't handle it and had tennis offered by the next year. Now
:58:20. > :58:23.she has won one slam, she got used to it, and she has one another and
:58:24. > :58:28.she will handle it and she will be a big threat this year, the French is
:58:29. > :58:31.coming up, her favourite tournament. It wasn't the greatest quality
:58:32. > :58:36.tennis today but you have to win the right points at the right time and
:58:37. > :58:40.that is what she did. You could see that when she unleashed the
:58:41. > :58:45.forehands and the backhands, she was a class above her opponent but the
:58:46. > :58:48.first set was very nervy. But a grand slam final can do it, I don't
:58:49. > :58:54.care who you are. She has only won one and she served so badly in the
:58:55. > :58:59.first set, but she won the points, that is all that matters. Cibulkova,
:59:00. > :59:02.when she looks back at this, and eventually she will study this match
:59:03. > :59:07.in detail, there were some poor errors she made at crucial times.
:59:08. > :59:11.And as much as she has really improved a lot, she has to work on
:59:12. > :59:16.her serve. It lets her down, the second serve is so easy to hit and
:59:17. > :59:23.until she improves that, she will be some players here and there, but in
:59:24. > :59:27.the big matches, you can really do some damage. There is no pace on the
:59:28. > :59:31.second serve, it goes into the middle of the service box and she
:59:32. > :59:35.serves double faults as well. You just felt that Li Na was in the
:59:36. > :59:40.driving seat in every rally, but that is what she does, she is an
:59:41. > :59:45.aggressive player. You felt like the match was in her hands at the the
:59:46. > :59:51.whole stage, there was nothing Cibulkova could do, but if she had
:59:52. > :59:54.lost the first set, she was very tight, Li Na, it could have gone the
:59:55. > :59:59.other way, but she held it together at the right time and when she is in
:00:00. > :00:02.full flow, she is magnificent. Cibulkova just has too have a look
:00:03. > :00:08.back at the results here, the run she has had here, beating Radwanska
:00:09. > :00:15.and Maria Sharapova and saying she is up with the big time, even though
:00:16. > :00:21.she's disappointed today. She fights the whole point, she smiles, she is
:00:22. > :00:26.great to watch, people don't like playing people like that, she is in
:00:27. > :00:30.your face, she is so quick. What a great tour and she did not disgrace
:00:31. > :00:33.herself by any means, got to a tie-break and so she will come out
:00:34. > :00:39.of this knowing that she will be close to the top ten. Why can't she
:00:40. > :00:43.beat the top players? She certainly has the game. You know what it is
:00:44. > :00:48.like in the Grand Slam finals, we both know and how much you can learn
:00:49. > :00:54.from it. Yes, she can learn from it and get wiped off the court, the
:00:55. > :01:00.first set was encouraging, and she will be aware of that. Let's hand
:01:01. > :01:03.back now to bruise from Channel seven in Australia for the
:01:04. > :01:08.presentation and talking to us will be Jonathan Evans.
:01:09. > :01:13.We have seen some stunning upsets and the emergence of some bright
:01:14. > :01:19.young stars and two remarkably popular players play until I's final
:01:20. > :01:20.and what a day for Slovakia and for China.
:01:21. > :01:28.APPLAUSE. Joining us for tonight's
:01:29. > :01:35.presentation is the president of tennis Australia, Mr Stephen Healy,
:01:36. > :01:43.the CEO of a NZ, Mr Mike Smith and Chris Evert who won her second
:01:44. > :01:50.Australian Open, her 100 and 32nd title in the 16th of 18 grand slams
:01:51. > :01:53.singles titles, what a player she was -- 132nd title.
:01:54. > :02:00.APPLAUSE. Also, at the presentation is the CEO
:02:01. > :02:03.of tennis Australia and the tournament director, Craig Tiley and
:02:04. > :02:10.the tournament referee, Wayne MacEwan. A NZ have been wonderful
:02:11. > :02:12.sponsors. I would invite their CEO Mike Smith to say a few words.
:02:13. > :02:24.APPLAUSE. ANZ is delighted to announce that it
:02:25. > :02:26.will sponsor the Australian Open for a further five years.
:02:27. > :02:38.APPLAUSE. The Australian Open has become also
:02:39. > :02:44.the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific and it is fantastic that tonight, the
:02:45. > :02:51.champion is from China, Li Na. APPLAUSE.
:02:52. > :03:03.Mike, thank you. And now also to say a few words, the president of Tennis
:03:04. > :03:07.Australia, Stephen. Good evening, everyone. What a fantastic fortnight
:03:08. > :03:10.of tennis from our female competitors here in the Australian
:03:11. > :03:16.Open. I would like to thank our fabulous sponsors, led by Keir, then
:03:17. > :03:22.three macro, Jacob's Creek, Rolex and all of our commercial partners
:03:23. > :03:27.and a special partner to the Government who have given us a great
:03:28. > :03:32.assistance with our facilities -- Spanish racial thank you to the
:03:33. > :03:37.Government. Thank you also... They can also to our tournament team led
:03:38. > :03:42.by our CEO, Craig Tiley, our referee, Wayne MacEwan and our 4500
:03:43. > :03:47.strong team who come together to operate the Australian Open. It is
:03:48. > :03:51.the enthusiasm and the precision that they have lent to this event
:03:52. > :03:56.that had led the players to call this the happy slam. And like you to
:03:57. > :03:59.all the spectators for the atmosphere you have provided here,
:04:00. > :04:05.it has been a very special tournament and to the players,
:04:06. > :04:13.Dominick, you are the first Slovakia player to make a grand slam final,
:04:14. > :04:17.congratulations. -- Dominika. Four wins over top 20 players and you
:04:18. > :04:22.have won a legion of fans by fantastic attitude and fighting for
:04:23. > :04:27.every ball. And to Li Na, twice a finalist here, finally a winner,
:04:28. > :04:32.holding up the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, your first Australian
:04:33. > :04:36.Open, congratulations. APPLAUSE.
:04:37. > :04:45.Stephen, forgive very much. I think Dominika has proven that you don't
:04:46. > :04:51.have to be big to be great. In the last two weeks, she has beaten two
:04:52. > :04:55.top five players on her way to this first Grand Slam final. I invite her
:04:56. > :04:57.to come up and receive the cheque and the trophy from Miss Chris
:04:58. > :05:04.Evert. COMMENTATOR: More wins this
:05:05. > :05:12.Melbourne Park fortnight than in the last five years put together. A very
:05:13. > :05:17.popular finalist. Will she get a chance again?
:05:18. > :05:43.They might have to go a little lower down with the mike stand! I did
:05:44. > :05:51.really know where to start, this has just been a fantastic two weeks of
:05:52. > :05:58.my life. I think I will cry! APPLAUSE.
:05:59. > :06:06.So, I will stop with my team. Thank you very much for supporting me that
:06:07. > :06:09.what I will start with Mike Tindall stop especially my coach, my
:06:10. > :06:16.boyfriend, my physiotherapist, my friends in the box and my fitness
:06:17. > :06:20.coach at home -- I will start with my family. And hello everybody in
:06:21. > :06:35.Slovakia. You know, this means a loss for our
:06:36. > :06:39.country and I am happy I can be the one here for Slovakia -- this means
:06:40. > :06:43.a lot for our country for that I would like to come much light Li Na,
:06:44. > :06:51.she had a great tournament and she deserve to be here. -- I would like
:06:52. > :06:58.to congratulate Li Na. And I also want to thank Chrissy for making my
:06:59. > :07:03.pre-season in the academy so great so I could be here as well. Thank
:07:04. > :07:15.you. And I would like to thank all the sponsors, this is my favourite
:07:16. > :07:23.Grand Slam now! All the people who work for the tournament, it is great
:07:24. > :07:24.and I know it takes so much energy. That is everything from me, thank
:07:25. > :07:28.you very much, guys. Her favourite one until the next
:07:29. > :07:40.one. Lovely speech. And now to our champion, Li Na. I
:07:41. > :07:44.know that there are lucky numbers in China but we have a saying, third
:07:45. > :07:47.time lucky. The third time she has been in the Australian Open in the
:07:48. > :07:52.last four years. Eight days ago, she said a match point in the third
:07:53. > :07:56.round, the fourth woman to do that in the Australian Open and she now
:07:57. > :08:01.adds the Australian Open to the championship at Roland Garros show
:08:02. > :08:07.see is a two time grandson champion. Has there been a more
:08:08. > :08:10.popular winner? Li Na! -- two-time Grand Slam champion.
:08:11. > :08:24.That match point must feel like a long, long time ago for Li Na.
:08:25. > :08:41.The memories of that victory over Safarova well and truly trumped by
:08:42. > :08:46.her first Australian Open title for the who last two times they were
:08:47. > :08:49.very close, I can start now. Three macro first,
:08:50. > :09:03.for Dominick. Very good tournament here. -- for Dominika. Best wishes
:09:04. > :09:09.for her future. Thank you. Now I have to thank my team. Max, you are
:09:10. > :09:13.making the rich, thanks a lot, my agent.
:09:14. > :09:18.Thanks to the agent for making the rich, lovely!
:09:19. > :09:27.My official, Alex. I never got injured, but last year in the
:09:28. > :09:37.finals, we couldn't come then so it is now your fault, so you are doing
:09:38. > :09:41.a very good job. Thanks to Carlos, always telling me I can do well.
:09:42. > :09:46.Especially in this winter training. I think we work so hard and finally
:09:47. > :09:52.I get it. Thank you so much. APPLAUSE.
:09:53. > :09:57.And of course, my husband, you are famous in China!
:09:58. > :10:15.So, thanks for him, travelling with me to be money heating partner, to
:10:16. > :10:22.fix the racket so he does a lot of jobs! Thanks a lot, you are a nice
:10:23. > :10:26.guy. LAUGHTER.
:10:27. > :10:34.And... And also you are so lucky to find me.
:10:35. > :10:45.LAUGHTER. OK, I would like to say thanks to
:10:46. > :10:49.all the sponsors, to make a fantastic tournament. I have to say
:10:50. > :10:54.that this is my favourite grandson, as I'm so happy I can win a grand
:10:55. > :10:56.slam here so I cannot wait to come back.
:10:57. > :11:12.You must think I talk too much, but last thing! Thanks for the crowd,
:11:13. > :11:15.going to support us so thank you, so much.
:11:16. > :11:25.APPLAUSE. Li Na is a very hard act to follow,
:11:26. > :11:30.ladies and gentlemen. A big run of applause for our two finalists,
:11:31. > :11:31.Dominika Cibulkova and our champion, our 2014 Australia and open
:11:32. > :11:46.champion, Li Na of China. COMMENTATOR: And Li Na will next be
:11:47. > :11:50.appearing on the BBC on Michael McIntyre's comedy road show! That
:11:51. > :11:57.was a fantastic speech. Clearly her husband take all the stick and he is
:11:58. > :12:02.now famous in China, says his wife, Li Na. The estimated television
:12:03. > :12:05.audience when she won the French Open was 160 million back in China
:12:06. > :12:11.and I am sure it was more this morning. 14 million Chinese play
:12:12. > :12:15.regularly and maybe one or two more after events in the last couple of
:12:16. > :12:19.hours. Li Na, Grand Slam champion again for the first time in
:12:20. > :12:24.Australia. SUE BARKER: I love her style. The
:12:25. > :12:30.agent first, then the coach and then the husband! That's great. I mention
:12:31. > :12:34.she had made 42 million from just endorsements from the last Grand
:12:35. > :12:39.Slam and she is great for the game and people will love that and people
:12:40. > :12:42.will want to sign her up. She is a crossover star, she appeals to
:12:43. > :12:46.everyone, not just tennis fans and when she gets up there, you never
:12:47. > :12:52.know what she will say. This could be good or... And the poor husband,
:12:53. > :12:57.what will she say about him? It is great! And at the age of 30 12, tear
:12:58. > :13:06.and win her second grand slam, she is one of the great success stories.
:13:07. > :13:09.She rededicated her life to tennis a few years ago, almost quit after the
:13:10. > :13:16.French Open, and re-dedicated herself to comeback to celebrate. I
:13:17. > :13:20.think she will handle it than the first one. For a, she asked her
:13:21. > :13:24.concentration and she should be concentrating now. She has got the
:13:25. > :13:27.French Open coming up, she has got a chance to cement a number two spot
:13:28. > :13:31.in the world this year and who knows? She could maybe not Serena
:13:32. > :13:35.Williams off the top perch. She has got the game to do so. And she
:13:36. > :13:39.reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, she can play well on
:13:40. > :13:46.grass as well. She has got that sort of all court game and she is such a
:13:47. > :13:48.gritty competitor. When it got tight particularly in the first set
:13:49. > :13:54.tie-break, she raised the level of the game and that will be key as she
:13:55. > :13:59.goes forward. Absolutely. She has got weapons, huge ground strokes,
:14:00. > :14:03.she moves well, depends well, her attitude is good, she fights hard,
:14:04. > :14:08.she is very fit. Carlos Rodriguez is a great coach in her corner now with
:14:09. > :14:11.the experience he had with Justine Henin so it is all going for her now
:14:12. > :14:16.and the confidence in winning her second slam, she could have a great
:14:17. > :14:20.year, she has had a great one already but she could have a great
:14:21. > :14:24.one or two before the end of the year. She was saying that she is
:14:25. > :14:33.changing her game, she knows she must improve because she see s how
:14:34. > :14:38.the game is evolving. You cannot sit still and she is moving into the net
:14:39. > :14:41.more. She is picking the ball earlier than she used to, she is
:14:42. > :14:45.defending better, these are things she is adding to her game and she
:14:46. > :14:50.knows she has to keep working hard otherwise the other people will
:14:51. > :14:54.catch up. It is lovely what they do after a Grand Slam event, all the
:14:55. > :14:57.photos being taken for the official photographers and the crowd, she
:14:58. > :15:00.will be going round there and then in the press conference and you know
:15:01. > :15:06.all the journalists will love her coming in because they know they
:15:07. > :15:09.will get another story. I would love to be at a press conference because
:15:10. > :15:14.you don't know what she will say. Who knows what she will come out
:15:15. > :15:22.with. It is so interesting that she is like this coming from China. She
:15:23. > :15:26.has bucked the trend, she did not go through the system, she did it on
:15:27. > :15:29.her own, got her own coach, decided to she wanted to go with and China
:15:30. > :15:34.have followed her and gone with her. She still lives and trains there and
:15:35. > :15:41.it is a great advert and hopefully, it will start... We talked about it
:15:42. > :15:45.in 2011, a new generation of Chinese Asian players. We have not quite see
:15:46. > :15:52.it yet but it will make people want to pick up a racket in China. It is
:15:53. > :15:57.inevitable. It is happening in golf. Yes, and it will happen in tennis.
:15:58. > :16:01.She will get millions more people in China picking up the game now, the
:16:02. > :16:06.younger kids. It will happen, the next 20 or 30 years, China will be a
:16:07. > :16:13.huge force in men's and women's tennis. And a word for Dominika, she
:16:14. > :16:16.was very sweet up there, it'll be tough to accept what happened
:16:17. > :16:19.because she had her chances but she must be proud of what she has
:16:20. > :16:25.achieved. Yes, and breath of fresh air, what a great competitor, a
:16:26. > :16:28.great smile, she fights hard. She is a dangerous opponent and people will
:16:29. > :16:33.not like playing her because she is like a Lleyton Hewitt, in your face
:16:34. > :16:36.every point, she tries hard and the quickest player on the tour. And she
:16:37. > :16:43.has now got the confidence of getting to the final so, why not ?
:16:44. > :16:47.She could do very well at the French Open. We are committed the end of
:16:48. > :16:51.our transmission, the men's final tomorrow, more light on this next
:16:52. > :16:56.week with Davis Cup, Great Britain return to the world group on clay in
:16:57. > :17:04.San Diego. So much expected of Britain's number one there.
:17:05. > :17:39.A lot expected of Andy Murray, it all starts on Friday at seven
:17:40. > :17:44.o'clock on BBC Three and then moves to BBC to live from San Diego, Great
:17:45. > :17:48.Britain against the United States. Just before we go, plenty of sport
:17:49. > :17:54.coming up today, football focus at midday and then following that,
:17:55. > :17:57.there will be Inspire, the Olympic journey. That will be the Winter
:17:58. > :18:02.Olympics special so you can join Gabby Logan for that, that's at
:18:03. > :18:05.1:15pm. And then you have athletics from Glasgow, a big year for
:18:06. > :18:11.Glasgow, the Commonwealth Games later but it is indoor athletics,
:18:12. > :18:15.that is live from 1:45pm. And the world indoor Bowls Championships
:18:16. > :18:21.continues over on BBC Two, and that is at 2:30pm. Semifinals they today.
:18:22. > :18:32.So, John, thank you very much and we will look forward to tomorrow.
:18:33. > :18:36.Rafael Nadal versus stand Wawrinka. 's Stanislav Muriklin. Goodbye. --
:18:37. > :18:39.Stanislas Wawrinka.