Women's Final Australian Open Tennis

Good morning. Today in Melbourne, it is ladies finals day and John is

with me once more but the usual suspects are not there. No Serena,

Maria or defending champion Victoria Azarenka. After this tournament of

upsets, the final features one familiar face, Li Na, fourth grand

slam final for her that she is up against Dominika Cibulkova, the

petite surprise package from Slovakia. Will her giant-killing

continue or will experience prevailed? Whichever way you look,

this is a fascinating matchup. There is nothing special for me,

just one match and one more to go. It is something beautiful, I know,

it is like a dream. Well, John, she has caused a stir in

Slovakia but there will be lots watching in China. The key to this

match is the first time grand slam final, people react in so many

different ways. That is what we don't know. We do not know how

Cibulkova will react. But how impressive has she been? The last

two matches, she has demolished their opponents and it looked like

she was having fun out there and she wakes up, she has got the finals,

that is a different ball game so we do not know how she reacts. If that

is positive, she has got a decent shot. She is small, only five foot

three and she has this wonderful title of being the shortest player

in the top 50 although I am sure she does not like that. It is where

women's players are so much taller to do so much better at that height.

If you are that small, you need to be quick and she really is. The

quickest player on the tour, I think. She has added things to be

quick and she really is. The quickest player on the tour, I

think. She has added thing similar games. She would go route one, but

her coach has taught as the more, creating more in the game. This

tournament, she has been brilliant. Fast during the points and between

them, she does not take much time out. Let's show you how she got

through to the final, it is very impressive. Against a experienced

Francesca Schiavone and then she has beaten one CD player at the next,

four of them ranked above her, Ria Sharapova was the big scalp, the

number three seed he went out in three sets in round four. -- Maria

Sharapova. We can show you how much against Agnieszka Radwanska, the

highest ranked player into the last four, she could have won it but it

was Cibulkova who went through and she has been talking about Marion

Bartoli has been a big inspiration after her surprise win at Wimbledon

last year. We are very close friends, some of the best friends. I

knew that she was working so hard for it she deserved it so much and

when she won it, I knew that everything is possible and it was

nice. Straight after my final she came into the gym to speak to me,

and we were both crying and she was so happy for me. The final of the

grand slam, it will be a pretty big match in the finals or the end of

the Grand Slams, everything counts. It will be a big fight for every

ball. And it will be my first final so I will try to enjoy it and I am

really looking forward to the match. She has been in the finals of Grand

Slams many times and she has already won one so she knows how this feels.

I am playing finals so it is something beautiful. It is like a

dream. So I want to go out there and just play my best and do my best. In

our country, it is huge. The people, and they are all cheering

for me, 6 million people, so it is big. It really is big. We keep

talking about the first final because she is saying all the right

things, she has to treat it as just another match and she has played

some great matches already but the build-up to a final is different,

the whole sitting in the locker room, everybody talking to you. And

you have got a couple of days to reflect on what you have done, it is

almost like you wish it was the next night after you finish the

semifinals. She had no nerves there, but the final is another big step. I

think she will adapt well but it is just that thing, we don't know. She

is really exciting now and we have seen how well she has played and it

could be a good final as long as she doesn't let the first few games but

away from her. They are very important. Let's look at her

opponent, Li Na who is very experienced, 31 years old, and this

is how she got through. She has not beaten a player ranked above her yet

but her semifinal against Eugenie Bouchard, she is one of the French

players tipped at major success. Last year, Li Na was talking about

quitting after she lost in the second round of the French Open but

she spoke to her coach, Carlos Rodriguez, they made some changes

and then she got to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, the

semifinals of the US Open and now here. Everybody knows what exactly

you play on the court after so many years. If I didn't change, I can

still keep in the top ten top 20 but I cannot be the best in the world so

I really want to push myself to change a bit. I think I have a good

volley. The coach was telling me, I was coming in more on the Poly, I

was thinking, what are you talking about? In the beginning I was

thinking, "what, why? " Because I had played on the baseline for

several years so why come to the net? But after that, he tried to say

that the good way for me was that and I have tried it and it is not

bad, especially Wimbledon last year. I was feeling that if I lost the

match, at least I tried, I found something, a new thing for me. That

is important, you need to keep making changes and move on and

Carlos Rodriguez who worked with Justine Henin, a great coach to have

in your corner. He has changed a few things in the game and she has

enjoyed doing it and look at the way she is reacting. The players are

ready, a big moment for this young lady.

And her opponent, from China, Li Na!

SUE BARKER: A big ovation for both players and Li Na, this is her third

final of the Australian Open. She had a fall last year and that

affected her and she is such a character, great in her press

conference as she is always giving her husband a hard time. She is a

real character. She is, she is a megastar. In Asia, she is huge and

it is one of those things with her, you feel like if she can win another

grand slam or two, she could take the next win. Without Serena

Williams, there is a big gap now in the women's game and she could take

that number two spot, no question. And she could challenge Serena

Williams. She has said before this is not a big deal, but I don't buy

that for a second, this is huge for her and she is the obvious

favourite. She was downright bored and since then she has been

brilliant. Suffer over, down a match point there. It does mean a lot as

well and you talk about the gap that Serena is leaving, Li Na will be 32

next month but it is great that she still wanted to make changes and

improve. It is what Roger Federer says, you look at it and think you

think they are a complete player that there is always something you

can learn. It is great that she is improving all aspects of a game and

mentally, she is a lot stronger. UMPIRE: We will have a photo after

the coin toss. Ladies, at this stage, I don't have anything else to

tell you other than have a great match, any other questions? OK,

let's go. Hence, OK, here we go. -- hence. It is tales.

A quick photo, ladies. SUE BARKER: There she is putting the

pressure on the first time a straightaway, come on, you got to

serve and throw the ball so you can see how nervous you are at the start

of the match. That is very shrewd, let your opponent served, the right

thing to do. A good opportunity to break. I think it is a very smart

thing to do for Li Na. Li Na is not quite five foot eight and Dominika,

five foot three, although some people are not she is quite that

tall but looking at who has won Grand Slams at that height, the last

person to win at that height was back in 1977 and only two grand slam

winners in the open area, Nancy and Richie Gunter, so it shows how

difficult it is to be this size against fit athletes who are much

taller and stronger. The game has changed so much. With the speed of

her footwork, Cibulkova, that is the big key. She is so quick, she can

run down every ball. Not a bad serve, Li Na will not serve that

many aces. I don't think it is a huge thing with her and Li Na, to

me, as a chance to become the best in the world. I believe that. She is

the next one after Serena and I think if she wins this tournament

today, who knows which you can go from here? She is confident, as all

the game, she is quick with a big forehand and backhand and I think

her coach is very shrewd. When you look at it, it will not be Serena

and Maria, they have not had great Grand Slams either, you look to

where the next people are, Eugenie Bouchard, just 19, and Laura Robson

we are hoping after a great run at the U.S. Open will start to make

breakthroughs because we are looking for the next generation. We are,

there is such an opening. You can see all the women's games go up a

level. How long is Serena going to be around? The opportunity in the

women's game to breakthrough is huge. You look at it and you take

Serena out of the equation, there is no real favourite in these

tournaments. There are ten or 12 of them who can win it and Ivanovic is

looking potentially good. There are a lot of people who are potentials

and it is an exciting time. That is why this is such a fascinating final

because this is a chance for Dominika to make a statement. People

sitting in the box including two of the greatest legends of all, Chris

Abbott and Martina Navratilova, you talk about great rivalries and you

don't get much bigger than that -- Chris Evert. There is flash

photography in this clip. I got to the finals of the

Australian Open here when I was 19 years old, the world wasn't paying

attention but now there is a lot more expectation. A lot more

pressure on the players but Dominika has worked very hard, she is excited

to be here, he has done very well against big players on big stages,

she loves it and embrace is it. She always plays her best tennis and

right now she is playing her best against everybody so if she can hold

her nerve, we will see a 3-set match but you still have to go with Li Na

as the favourite. Cibulkova is the giant killer, nobody would have

expected it. Upsetting four seeds, my question is, will her legs hold

up? She has to take around three steps to everybody else's one step.

Li Na will have the pressure but she has been there and she sensed as

soon as all the top seeds lost, she sensed that this was her time. You

never know, the intangibles are the nerves coming to the final, how they

will both react. SUE BARKER: Absolutely, it is all

about the nerves and when you look at Cibulkova, she has won three

titles during her career, Moscow, Carlsbad and Stanford. This is such

a huge jump up to come into a grand slam and she has got to try to

forget that and use her again because how she has been winning

here, she is such a powerful puncher of the ball. She needs to forget the

occasion. That is the thing, can she? The coach will be trying to

calm her down, it is the old cliche, one point com embrace it. I hope she

does. She is an exciting player. Her variety has exceeded in this

tournament, her confidence level has gone up, she believes she belongs

now and I think she will enjoy this match and it is its -- it is a

chance for her to shine. Li Na has won a grand slam but this is not

Serena Williams she is facing, Li Na gets nervous in big matches as well

so she has got a good shot. But the experience of Li Na is going to be

key as well and it will be interesting. There are only seven

women over the age of 30 who have won a grand slam and the last person

to win it and Australia was Margaret Court back in 1973 so she is trying

to hit the record books as well. You get a feeling though that with Li Na

as you say, the fact not only has she been in grand slam finals, this

is her fourth, but she has been in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, the

semifinal of the US Open, she is a big occasion player. Yes, and a good

record. She has got good weapons to counteract what Cibulkova will do.

She is very quick. She defends well, she can hang in in these rallies,

she says pretty big so there are lots of ways that she can blunt the

weapons that Cibulkova will throw at her so on paper, Li Na should win

this match. These first few minutes will be key. You can get in touch

with us, many ways to get in touch with the team, via the website and

there is the address, or you can tweet us, or you can contact us via

our Facebook page. We are already for this final. It is good moment to

Jonathan in the commentary box. COMMENTATOR: Good morning,

everybody. The first grand slam singles final

of the season. Born here in the UK but out in the

mesmerising metropolis that is Melbourne, and it has been a long

day of waiting for these two. For Li Na and especially, you feel, for

Dominika Cibulkova. Her first grand slam final.

That was definitely a chance for Li Na to create points in the opening

game. Good recovery from Cibulkova in this

game, three points in a row. But this could be a long match, could be

a long way to go but best of three sets, the start cancer often be so

crucial. -- the start cancer often be -- the start can so often be.

She has never beaten Lee now in four attempts. Cibulkova has only won a

single set of the nine they have played.

Just about survives that forehand perilously close to the edge of the

sideline. She is in that tricky situation in the first game here of

wanting to play her natural game but also trying to counter those

understandable nerves. Really hugging the baseline in that

rally when you take the ball on early.

Good court position there, just steps in, she is keeping the

pressure on and she gets that just to nail that backhand behind her

opponent. A sad way for the game to end. Li Na

with the early break. Finalist here in 2011, losing to Kim

Clijsters, went on to win the following major tournament at Roland

Garros. Returned to the Melbourne final in 2012, actually lost in the

fourth round in 2012, I beg your pardon, again to Kim Clijsters. Last

year she made the semifinal with the dramatic match to Victoria Azarenka,

and she had two falls on her ankle, Li Na.

The experience of the situations counts for so much, particularly in

these early stages. That was a big service game for Cibulkova. She

needed to hold that, that would have settled the nerves.

That was a strange shot their, didn't prepare well. Went for a

difficult shot there, into the body and tried to hit the off backhand

and it was not good preparation there from Li Na.

Both players having trouble with the ball toss.

Looks like this shot could be an important part of this match, the

backhand down the line for Li Na. It is twice that she has got behind her

opponent with that. This game, crucial for Cibulkova.

She has to get on board here. Very easy to panic in the situations if

you go down a double break in a major final. Very easy to suddenly

start worrying too much and not focusing.

She is just pressing too much, you can feel it.

Contemplate over her best grand slam performance for her, Cibulkova. Six

wins here this fortnight. She only won four matches in all of the Grand

Slams put together last season. Good return. Particularly that

forehand side, she comes round the ball, always goes into the middle of

the box and when you have got somebody like Li Na with that

forehand who is quick, she will be held to get round and hit that

forehand and that could be a problem area. Not much variety of her first

serve unfortunately for Cibulkova, it is a bit following a pattern.

Opportunities here for Li Na to completely stamp their authority on

this. That was a good opportunity. Very good, short, inside the service

box, 15 - 30, just overcooked the forehand. That was the big points.

-- that was a big point. There are a lot of components in

this serve if you get nervous, they can go wrong. It is not a natural

service motion and the ball toss is very high. Not much written in her

serve. -- rhythm. Good pass. Well done, that was

really well done. It was a poor approach shot from Li

Na. sometimes in this game, it just

takes one moment to flick the switch and sort things out and get you into

a match. And you just sense with that

reaction, Cibulkova knows she has close to doing that. -- she is

close. She needs better first serves than

that, though. Again, though, she set it up quite

nicely with a much better second serve. But then she just lacked the

depth on the three subsequent ground strokes. I think she knows it. And a

good morning to you too. And there is the difference, Li Na

is setting up these points with a greater depth, right into the

corner. Doesn't necessarily win her the point on the shot, but the next

one and the one after that. She is certainly taking the ball early, Li

Na, on the rise, not letting her opponent settle and get into the

rallies. She looks very competent. -- confident.

They are a very knowledgeable crowd, the Australian crowd, and they know

their tennis. They are sensing this, they know it is a big game, it's

Cibulkova went then two breaks in this first set.

It is a vital game in this final, they are willing her on, they want

this to be a great match. The potential is there but it could also

go the other way, if she goes down a double break.

She is on the board, 16 minutes, it has taken her. That will mean so

much for the 20th seed from Slovakia, Dominika Cibulkova, who is

getting a lot of support on social media this morning. You can tweet us

at BBC Sport, you can go to our face -- Facebook page. A lot of people

have been talking about the fairy tale it could be, having beaten the

likes of Maria Sharapova, as a renter, she beat Simona Halep as

well, who was one of the stories of the tournament -- Victoria Azarenka.

That was a surprising quarterfinal, Cibulkova winning 6-3, 6-0.

Obviously the Sharapova match was an upset but she hadn't played much

coming in, but she demolished the number four player in the world and

made she -- her look like she was a novice. The level she played out in

the semifinal was absolutely brilliant. She never stops moving.

Lots of smiles the forehand, that was nice to see, and even when she

was introduced to the ball kid who did the contest, Cibulkova shook her

hand and said, "hello, I am Dominika. " "Yes, I know!".

In fact, they are both very easy to chat to. Li Na is very popular off

the court, often has a smile on her face, full of laughs in the

interviews afterwards, which is always good fun.

Annoyed at that one, she was a bit upright on that backhand. She should

have made that. She just has no rhythm on her first

serve at the moment. No call from the line judge there.

Very quickly over ruling. That fall one that she hits down the

line, it is an awesome weapon, that one. -- that full one. You can see

Cibulkova guarding the backhand side and the leading that gap -- leaving

that gap down the line. Getting some fortune off the net

cord and then getting away with a mishit forehand. 3-1 ahead, but

clearly not satisfied with her form in the early stages. She has held

both served without getting a first serve him, basically. That last game

was a bit erratic, but getting away with it so far.

Well, it would be nice if the centre of the racket was used a little bit

more in this match, but up to 25 minutes of rather erratic tennis,

you do sense how important it is for Cibulkova to stay close, within one

game, and that sort of reaction tells the story. You are exactly

right, it has been an erratic and nervous start the both players,

quite frankly, and Li Na has the break, which was kind of given,

really, by Cibulkova with a double faults and after that, it has been

patchy. Li Na, with so much more experience, she should be up a

double break and this set should be over but as you rightly said,

Cibulkova is still in this match and Li Na at the moment cannot buy a

first serve, so she is not out this set. Hopefully, she will get a

little bit calmer, Cibulkova, she is on the board, has held her serve

twice. Then a break, but not that big a deal, middle of the first set.

-- down a break. I would be surprised if Li Na doesn't work out

her first serve, she cannot get one in at all. She also has a high

proportion of failed ball tosses. Both of them seem to have caught the

ball a number of times. The sun is still out despite the

floodlights being on, but that will change. The unique setting of an

evening final here in Melbourne. Much better hitting from both

players during that rally. Really the first opportunity for them to

extend themselves and show that athleticism around the baseline.

Cibulkova there, the footwork getting to these balls when she was

stretched out wide, the double quick steps that she takes, it is

fantastic speed. This one, she knew she was just going to whack that

one, just leaning into it, not messing around.

Carlos Rodriguez, Li Na's coach, used to work with Justine Henin, so

much success in that partnership over the years.

The serve is not happening for her, is it? The first serve has vanished

and consequently, the pressure is on her second serve. She has deleted

pretty deep, otherwise she is on the back foot. -- she has two hit it.

She has not settled, she is at the break but she has not been

convincing. She has a Grand Slam win, but you

wouldn't think it at the moment. Oh dear, oh dear. Amazing. Cibulkova

is back in the final after half an hour. She did nothing to achieve

it, really, two double faults. Li Na got the early break, you would have

thought she would settle, she has a Grand Slam win... What does that

mean, the string tension? Blame the racket. " What am I meant to do? " !

It looked long. The Serb did look long, yes. -- serve.

Well, they are still together, Li Na and her husband, but goodness me,

she gives him a bit of grief in the tennis environment.

She did so well to reach that and get a clean hit, and that crispness

of the return for Cibulkova, she has found it.

Not just about getting to that, but getting the clean hit, to enable you

to strike your opponent's baseline. I know -- a nice one, punch. -- one,

two punch. She has the natural swinging motion to get to the side

of the ball but that one came to Li Na's backhand.

A good time to serve one if you are going to serve one, I suppose, 40-0.

Make -- making the maximum use of that slide out wide. Team Slovakia

impressed that their player is in the lead. Slovakia's first grand

slam finalist, certainly representing Slovakia, because

Miroslav Macic in the 1980s was one of the greats. So much skill and

Kraft. But certainly, for that nation, she is big in Bratislava, is

she going to be big tonight? She is back in the match. Very few people

are bigger in China than Li Na, and there are millions and millions and

millions out there. Engaged, as you might see there, a nice little rock

on the engagement finger of Dominika Cibulkova. They had been together

for a few years there. Has to get that first serve going. 13%. Pouch.

That is shocking. -- pouch. That is one of the things that has

worked today, the backhand down the line, everything else has been

suspect to say the least. But that shot, she seems to be confident on

it. It is behind her opponent again. It looks like it is a lot easier for

her when she gets that first serve in. That is four in a row. Maybe she

caught a glimpse of the statistic. 15%!

There was almost a rare sight there of serve and volley.

Good play from Li Na a game, much better. -- again. Finding a little

bit of consistency, which has so far eluded her. It is good for the

neutral, hope you are enjoying this on this Saturday morning. Li Na will

feel she should have got this first set done by now. Definitely, the way

she started. On the forehand, just wish you would

want it, and completely mishit that one across court.

The only place where Cibulkova can really hit that ball is swerving

down the middle, you don't often get it down the middle. Have to move a

couple of feet to her left side, Li Na, she could be hitting big

forehands, but she is alone that ball to catch her in the middle of

the backhand side. Cibulkova didn't get herself in

position for the next shot. Not very impressive from both

players, when you look at the starts. -- statistics.

So many mishits, John, including those unforced errors from Li Na. Is

that a sign of the ball fizzing through the court, the speed of

Cibulkova's shots? I think it is nervous. I don't think either player

has resettled, even now. -- it is nerves.

That is the first time Li Na has got round that second serve and the ball

down the middle line. The sooner Cibulkova misses that first serve,

Li Na should be running round that ball, giving her a look. She is

nervous on her serve. Put some pressure on that second serve.

A simple shot, really. No real difficulty there. Regulation ball to

a forehand side, Li Na on break point to serve for the set. It is

miles out. I suppose that is 1-1 on the let

court winners. It evens itself out, but is never true though because it

is when it happens in the match and that was a huge point to get a net

cord on. Cibulkova is 5-4 up, don't quite

know how but she is. You have to give her credit for

hanging in there, she has not played particularly well, Cibulkova, but

comes in, loses her opening set, very tight but she has hung in

there. I don't think she has played particularly well, it has really

come down to Li Na but that is not her fault, she is getting enough

balls to hang in there but Li Na is the one with experience, she should

be a pace that already. She is serving to stay in the set as it is

and it is a very strange performance but it is quite windy out there. It

is either up or down, there is no middle ground with her game at the

moment. It is almost like she does not have a three quarters shot where

you get the ball back in place sometimes. She is either going for

it and it is spectacular or it is really poor and there are way too

many errors on her side. A strange performance from her. First Grand

Slam singles trophy of the 2014 season is on the line here this . It

will be Nadal versus Wawrinka tomorrow. Can listen to it on Radio

5 Live and it will be on BBC Two. Excellent BBC sport interactive text

service which is up and running for this match and throughout the whole

tournament. So now, Li Na has the challenge of serving to stay in the

set. It is so good when she gets that

serve going, the one, two punch. It look so easy for her on a shop like

this but with her missing so many first serves but some anyway would

forehand. -- so many wayward forehands.

That was a disappointing return there, a huge point. A wayward error

on the backhand side, big point. A fabulous return of serve there.

Beautiful serve from Li Na as well. Wasn't expecting that want to come

at her that quick. A bit of rhythm on that serve

finally for Li Na. Wonderful arena this, the Rod Laver Arena, the

centrepiece of Melbourne Park. If you love your sport, you really

cannot go wrong in this part of town. You wonder out of the city

centre or get the city taxi all the water taxi, and suddenly you have

got the MCG, and the tennis centre here. Close proximity. The rowers

going about their business, wonderful.

Never really gave Li Na a chance to get settled in that rally. She was

always in the heavier balls and defensive could never get her a

chance to attack the ball, very good point.

You feel that this match is in Li Na's hands. If she posted her

capability, it is the heavier ground strokes, the bigger first serve, she

is more experienced. Yes, great play. You can send it, Li

Na's eyes following the point in this game. Two break points. That

was a well worked point from Li Na, very solid. This was the shot that

set her up, the forehand crosscourt and she stepped in early, way too

much court to cover their from Cibulkova.

The Chinese back in front. The problem possible cover now is that

if Li Na has the consistency, she will be in big trouble. About two

serve for the first set. She has settled down in that game, she

constructed the points better, a more solid game but the moment we

are watching, you still do know if she will serve this out because her

serves have been so unpredictable. The game has been good or bad,

consistency is not quite there. Maybe she has turned the corner now.

We shall see in this game. An impressive break of serve though.

Following tennis in China over the past few years has been interesting

because when they won a couple of medals at the Athens Olympics in one

of the great stories, China was going to be the next big powerhouse

in the sport of tennis, and may still be because they have amazing

potential with such a massive population. But looking at the

statistics, they have got four players in the top 100 at the moment

in the women's game, nine in the top 300, five years ago, three players

in the top 108 in the top 300. So in five years, they have not made that

much progress. They do have a Grand Slam champion

in this lady, Li Na, though. The forehand took over in that

rally. Hesitated a bit on the drive volley,

at one stage, she looked pretty keen and then she backed off it and ended

up taking it in the air. To get ran an hit the big forehand, good first

point. -- to get round and hit. A great return of serve from

Cibulkova there. The best serve that Li Na has hit out wide, excellently

returned, got it back into play and get a chance for that rally. Not a

very good forehand from Li Na though, complete mishit.

She slipped there. On that drop shot. It looked like she regained

her balance. A comfortable volley, really, and it went horribly wrong.

She broke down on the wrist there. Not much confidence in that shot.

Break back point. Got away with that mishit backhand

there, just crept inside the line. The crosscourt could have easily

gone out. That is the shot, mishit, just landed in. Able to take charge

with the forehand. Bit fortunate there.

A strange shop to go for on that point. A deep return into her body

and she drives a clean one down the line. Whoever can string three or

four good boys together at once, you feel they could be the champion all

would be. Absolutely. That is what the extra depth gives

you on the return. Hasn't found it enough so far in this final now,

another chance to take us into a tie-break. This ball toss...

And they break them, you can see the uncertainty with Li Na. She played

that forehand with so much caution. She looked a bit muddled to me. Not

too sure how to play this. UMPIRE: Each player will have an

additional challenge. I don't know why she's not even

moving further round there. That is a middle of the service box,

swerving into a forehand. Should be punished almost every time.

She would be lost without her backhand down the line, wouldn't

she? That shot was beautiful, she is loving that shot today.

That was good from Cibulkova, using all the angles and carving open the

court. Fabulous point. Just took charge of

the rally early on, didn't overplay. She got the chance, made

sure of it. 180 as they could see to the players, ladies and gentlemen,

please do not call out during the rally.

It looks like a commanding lead but even now, you're still not quite

sure. she played with Kim Clijsters in the

forefront match she was 6-2 up in the second round tie-break, four

match points and went on to lose in three. Has been involved in some

terrific tussles of the women's tour in the last few years, perhaps that

one in Wimbledon. Last summer, Li Na against Agnieszka Radwanska.

She will be up to three in the world, what ever happens today. Very

close to the world number two position. Currently held by Victoria

Azarenka. She is going to challenge with

Hawk-Eye. UMPIRE: The ball was called in.

Always dangerous if you call off from the rally because she gets this

wrong, she has lost the point. UMPIRE: 5-2, Li. A dangerous thing

to do. Just to disrupt the momentum a bit in this tie-break. Can

Cibulkova use that in her favour? She did well there, and it was an

awkward volley. Very low. Couldn't do much with it and just pushed it

up into the middle of the court but again, the speed, the sliding

forehand, I would like to see that they hard court. -- see that on a

hard court. To go from 5-1 to 5-3, getting

twitchy for Li Na so that is a bit of a let off and gives Li three set

points. Well, we have called this the Grand

Slam of Asia and the Pacific for several years and they will be few

more popular winners, if she can add this to her Roland Garros title of

2011. One set away from doing that, Li Na. It was close, wasn't it was

Jim at the quality we hope will improve but very type -- the

quality, it was close, wasn't it? Behind the unforced errors,

particularly with Cibulkova with 20 unforced errors, Cibulkova would

want that to be fewer that you can see the mixture with Li Na, 22

winners so obviously the one dictating the play but 25 unforced

errors. But positives taken hopefully from both players in that

set and from Li Na, she wins the first set, she is up a set, didn't

play that well and she knows she can play better but for Cibulkova, the

first grand slam, she was close, she knows her opponent is not playing

particularly well and almost got the first set and she will be encouraged

by that so the second set, this could be interesting.

I like the way Carlos Rodriguez there is sitting in the box, the

husband is in the front of the line so if she is playing badly, he gets

the brunt of it and he can duck behind and not get that and then

when she is winning, he can lean forward and shake the fist and go

well done so he's in a good position, very smart.

UMPIRE: Second set. So, Melbourne Park, the first grand

singles final of the season, Nadal versus Wawrinka this time tomorrow

live on the BBC. But right now, Li Na, one set away from the title.

She has the power to take over the rally from those positions. We have

seen the backhand down the line in the first set, and this time the

forehand. It was a deep ball from Cibulkova but punished the. --

punished. A good recovery from 0-30. She has got a great opportunity, if

she can win this title, to move up the rankings. We were talking about

the latter part there, the French Open is the next Grand Slam coming,

it is her favourite and with Serena Williams, it being her least

favourite, she could certainly take that number two spot. There is no

reason why not, this year. If she wins this title, she will only be 11

ranking points behind as a rancour, which is nothing. Williams will stay

number one -- behind Victoria Azarenka. It could be very

interesting year at the top of both men's and women's games. Wawrinka is

the new Swiss number one! It take him up to number five in the

men's rankings, ahead of Andy Murray, in fact, who lost a lot of

ranking points by only making the quarterfinals this year.

It is a well worked point a game -- again. A few flatter hits on the

forehand from Li Na. There is a lot of Arc to her forehand in this match

so far. That one, a lot flatter. The statistics are not being kind on

that second serve. 25%, I think it was, on her second serve. You can

see why, it is in the middle of the service box. She has got to up that

first serve percentage, she has missed three in a row.

Another break for Li Na. Cibulkova is furious.

I like the way she is taking her time here, she has got the break,

she is up a set, 2-0, it is a big game for Li Na, she is not rushing.

If she holds this, she gets a 3-0 gap and cements this break, it puts

her in a commanding position. That is why you like the height of

the volley to be. -- that is where. The first serve-volley we have seen

today, so at 40-0, she wasn't exactly taking a chance. We might

not have seen it if it had been 35 and 30. Didn't quite enough to -- do

enough with the volley, good return by Cibulkova.

Dominika using all her experience, taking her time, finding a little

bit of sweet timing -- Li Na using all her experience. And taking what

looks like a commanding lead in the second set, having had a nervous

first. Thank you for all of your text messages and tweets, get in

touch with us. A lot of people talking about is nerves, is it a

case of who can hold their nerve more is the question many of you are

asking. The majority are saying that Li Na's experience will outshine

Cibulkova in the second set. " Everything seems against Cibulkova,

including the crowd and history. I admire her courage against such

formidable opposition. " "This must be the most nervous I have seen two

finalists, a very tense final. " That it is, but it is nothing new,

nerves go back decades and centuries. Grand Slam finals, that

is what it is all about you don't know how players are going to react

and you would have thought Li Na, having won one, she would come out

and be more relaxed, but wasn't, certainly not at the beginning. She

had an early break but it was an unconvincing first serve. She looks

like she has relaxed now but grand slam finals can do that to you, it

doesn't matter who you are, how much experience you have, you can still

get tight out there. There are only four slams a year and they mean

everything to the players, it is what you work for your whole career,

it doesn't matter what you have one, they are all special. -- won.

UMPIRE: Cibulkova is challenging the call on the right baseline. Did you

feel the nerves in your Australian Open final or did you have too much

fun the night before? I am not going to comment on that.

Cibulkova has done a good job so far of just hanging in there and staying

with Li Na. This is really the first time there has been clear daylight

on the scoreboard. That is the perfect weight.

Cibulkova, her attitude, every point, it doesn't matter whether she

wins or she loses, she is ready for the next one.

Another one. Another backhand winner. It is the shot that looks

like it could win her the title here. 15 backhand winners in the

match. The form continues. 4-0, double

break. Terrific stadium, this. It is not

just use for tennis, they had the gymnastic say when Melbourne hosted

the Commonwealth Games. Even the world swimming Championships is held

inside here. 2007. What makes it unique as an arena is

the first role of spectators also elevated. -- the first row. You can

see the backboards behind Li Na. In other arenas, the first row is right

down at court level. You wouldn't know she was down 4-0.

It is great to have that sort of attitude. It is amazing how many

points that can win, just bad luck that you have. It makes the life of

the coach easier -- that look. Carlos Rodriguez will be happy with

that, he has been trying to get Li Na to come in more. 0-30, a bit

risky but it was the right tactic and he will be happy, moving up to

the ball and getting into the net. The Daphne Ackhurst Memorial Cup --

Akhurst. Former Australian Open champion. And Li Na, close, it

seems, to being a first-time winner here in Melbourne.

It is all coming together for Li Na of China, as she moves to within a

single game of her second grand slam title.

Just seeing that last game, the greater weight shot on the ground

strokes, the penetration, six inches to a foot inside the baseline,

power, the flatter of the two ground strokes, Cibulkova is more top spin,

and when Li Na is in full flow, Cibulkova cannot stay with her, it

is a different pace and depth. It is that little bit of extra care, you

sense, on those forehands, in the last couple of games, to add to the

power that has been working all day on the backhand.

And experience. The code, though. -- for Cibulkova, though. Within a few

places of the world's top ten. She had been to a French Open semi

before, she was very young, 19, a few years ago now.

Li Na's third Australian Open final in four years. Is this going to be

the one? Sijsling backhand. That has been the

shot, hasn't it, these finals? A smile at the good fortune, but

perhaps also with a hint of resignation.

Pulled up on the head with that one, just lifted it.

CROWD ROARS it will move onto Flushing Meadows

and Wimbledon, but Melbourne Park, the first of the season,

championship points. There it is. She is the champion in

Australia. A second grand slam title for Li

Na. So popular here. A beaten finalist

three years ago by Kim Clijsters, last year by Victoria Azarenka, but

the sheer coming out on top and adding the Australian Open to her

French Open crown. A thumbs up for Carlos Rodriguez and her husband,

her long-suffering husband! They are all smiles in the box. Carlos

Rodriguez, a champion here again after all of these years good work

with Justine Henin. -- of good work. A popular winner and, who

knows now, she has set this year up perfectly. Two tournaments played,

two titles won, very close to becoming the world number two.

Cibulkova with a chance to build, no doubt about that. Overwrought in her

first grand slam final, the nerves getting on top of her. Only able to

show us her best in rare glimpses. And as the lights go out, they are

going to shut the roof, as they like to do here at Melbourne Park, for

the showbiz affect for the presentation ceremony. -- effect.

SUE BARKER: And they prepare for the presentation and that will be made

by Chris Evert, a huge favourite and grand slam champion, winner of 18

titles and runner-up in 16 of them. She will be on court to help with

the presentation but, of course, tomorrow we look forward to the

men's final, the world number one up against one of the most improved

players of the last year. Well, we'll Wawrinka be celebrating

tomorrow -- will? Nadal has won all of their previous meetings but he

will be aware of his improved form and Stan will not be thinking about

that, he has had a tremendous tournament. So Nadal against

Wawrinka, that is tomorrow, live from 8:15am. And going back here, we

look forward to hearing from both players, who have made such a big

impact at the Championships. Cibulkova, and also Li Na, and we

know that will be a very entertaining speech, she is such a

character in her press conferences and it is going to be such a big

story back in China and around the world. When she won the French Open

in 2011, she signed so many deals, John Lloyd, she was signing

endorsements for $42 million, she is such a hot property in China. She

is, and I think this time she will handle it a lot better. She said

after she won the French, she was so inundated with what was happening,

she couldn't handle it and had tennis offered by the next year. Now

she has won one slam, she got used to it, and she has one another and

she will handle it and she will be a big threat this year, the French is

coming up, her favourite tournament. It wasn't the greatest quality

tennis today but you have to win the right points at the right time and

that is what she did. You could see that when she unleashed the

forehands and the backhands, she was a class above her opponent but the

first set was very nervy. But a grand slam final can do it, I don't

care who you are. She has only won one and she served so badly in the

first set, but she won the points, that is all that matters. Cibulkova,

when she looks back at this, and eventually she will study this match

in detail, there were some poor errors she made at crucial times.

And as much as she has really improved a lot, she has to work on

her serve. It lets her down, the second serve is so easy to hit and

until she improves that, she will be some players here and there, but in

the big matches, you can really do some damage. There is no pace on the

second serve, it goes into the middle of the service box and she

serves double faults as well. You just felt that Li Na was in the

driving seat in every rally, but that is what she does, she is an

aggressive player. You felt like the match was in her hands at the the

whole stage, there was nothing Cibulkova could do, but if she had

lost the first set, she was very tight, Li Na, it could have gone the

other way, but she held it together at the right time and when she is in

full flow, she is magnificent. Cibulkova just has too have a look

back at the results here, the run she has had here, beating Radwanska

and Maria Sharapova and saying she is up with the big time, even though

she's disappointed today. She fights the whole point, she smiles, she is

great to watch, people don't like playing people like that, she is in

your face, she is so quick. What a great tour and she did not disgrace

herself by any means, got to a tie-break and so she will come out

of this knowing that she will be close to the top ten. Why can't she

beat the top players? She certainly has the game. You know what it is

like in the Grand Slam finals, we both know and how much you can learn

from it. Yes, she can learn from it and get wiped off the court, the

first set was encouraging, and she will be aware of that. Let's hand

back now to bruise from Channel seven in Australia for the

presentation and talking to us will be Jonathan Evans.

We have seen some stunning upsets and the emergence of some bright

young stars and two remarkably popular players play until I's final

and what a day for Slovakia and for China.

APPLAUSE. Joining us for tonight's

presentation is the president of tennis Australia, Mr Stephen Healy,

the CEO of a NZ, Mr Mike Smith and Chris Evert who won her second

Australian Open, her 100 and 32nd title in the 16th of 18 grand slams

singles titles, what a player she was -- 132nd title.

APPLAUSE. Also, at the presentation is the CEO

of tennis Australia and the tournament director, Craig Tiley and

the tournament referee, Wayne MacEwan. A NZ have been wonderful

sponsors. I would invite their CEO Mike Smith to say a few words.

APPLAUSE. ANZ is delighted to announce that it

will sponsor the Australian Open for a further five years.

APPLAUSE. The Australian Open has become also

the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific and it is fantastic that tonight, the

champion is from China, Li Na. APPLAUSE.

Mike, thank you. And now also to say a few words, the president of Tennis

Australia, Stephen. Good evening, everyone. What a fantastic fortnight

of tennis from our female competitors here in the Australian

Open. I would like to thank our fabulous sponsors, led by Keir, then

three macro, Jacob's Creek, Rolex and all of our commercial partners

and a special partner to the Government who have given us a great

assistance with our facilities -- Spanish racial thank you to the

Government. Thank you also... They can also to our tournament team led

by our CEO, Craig Tiley, our referee, Wayne MacEwan and our 4500

strong team who come together to operate the Australian Open. It is

the enthusiasm and the precision that they have lent to this event

that had led the players to call this the happy slam. And like you to

all the spectators for the atmosphere you have provided here,

it has been a very special tournament and to the players,

Dominick, you are the first Slovakia player to make a grand slam final,

congratulations. -- Dominika. Four wins over top 20 players and you

have won a legion of fans by fantastic attitude and fighting for

every ball. And to Li Na, twice a finalist here, finally a winner,

holding up the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, your first Australian

Open, congratulations. APPLAUSE.

Stephen, forgive very much. I think Dominika has proven that you don't

have to be big to be great. In the last two weeks, she has beaten two

top five players on her way to this first Grand Slam final. I invite her

to come up and receive the cheque and the trophy from Miss Chris

Evert. COMMENTATOR: More wins this

Melbourne Park fortnight than in the last five years put together. A very

popular finalist. Will she get a chance again?

They might have to go a little lower down with the mike stand! I did

really know where to start, this has just been a fantastic two weeks of

my life. I think I will cry! APPLAUSE.

So, I will stop with my team. Thank you very much for supporting me that

what I will start with Mike Tindall stop especially my coach, my

boyfriend, my physiotherapist, my friends in the box and my fitness

coach at home -- I will start with my family. And hello everybody in

Slovakia. You know, this means a loss for our

country and I am happy I can be the one here for Slovakia -- this means

a lot for our country for that I would like to come much light Li Na,

she had a great tournament and she deserve to be here. -- I would like

to congratulate Li Na. And I also want to thank Chrissy for making my

pre-season in the academy so great so I could be here as well. Thank

you. And I would like to thank all the sponsors, this is my favourite

Grand Slam now! All the people who work for the tournament, it is great

and I know it takes so much energy. That is everything from me, thank

you very much, guys. Her favourite one until the next

one. Lovely speech. And now to our champion, Li Na. I

know that there are lucky numbers in China but we have a saying, third

time lucky. The third time she has been in the Australian Open in the

last four years. Eight days ago, she said a match point in the third

round, the fourth woman to do that in the Australian Open and she now

adds the Australian Open to the championship at Roland Garros show

see is a two time grandson champion. Has there been a more

popular winner? Li Na! -- two-time Grand Slam champion.

That match point must feel like a long, long time ago for Li Na.

The memories of that victory over Safarova well and truly trumped by

her first Australian Open title for the who last two times they were

very close, I can start now. Three macro first,

for Dominick. Very good tournament here. -- for Dominika. Best wishes

for her future. Thank you. Now I have to thank my team. Max, you are

making the rich, thanks a lot, my agent.

Thanks to the agent for making the rich, lovely!

My official, Alex. I never got injured, but last year in the

finals, we couldn't come then so it is now your fault, so you are doing

a very good job. Thanks to Carlos, always telling me I can do well.

Especially in this winter training. I think we work so hard and finally

I get it. Thank you so much. APPLAUSE.

And of course, my husband, you are famous in China!

So, thanks for him, travelling with me to be money heating partner, to

fix the racket so he does a lot of jobs! Thanks a lot, you are a nice

guy. LAUGHTER.

And... And also you are so lucky to find me.

LAUGHTER. OK, I would like to say thanks to

all the sponsors, to make a fantastic tournament. I have to say

that this is my favourite grandson, as I'm so happy I can win a grand

slam here so I cannot wait to come back.

You must think I talk too much, but last thing! Thanks for the crowd,

going to support us so thank you, so much.

APPLAUSE. Li Na is a very hard act to follow,

ladies and gentlemen. A big run of applause for our two finalists,

Dominika Cibulkova and our champion, our 2014 Australia and open

champion, Li Na of China. COMMENTATOR: And Li Na will next be

appearing on the BBC on Michael McIntyre's comedy road show! That

was a fantastic speech. Clearly her husband take all the stick and he is

now famous in China, says his wife, Li Na. The estimated television

audience when she won the French Open was 160 million back in China

and I am sure it was more this morning. 14 million Chinese play

regularly and maybe one or two more after events in the last couple of

hours. Li Na, Grand Slam champion again for the first time in

Australia. SUE BARKER: I love her style. The

agent first, then the coach and then the husband! That's great. I mention

she had made 42 million from just endorsements from the last Grand

Slam and she is great for the game and people will love that and people

will want to sign her up. She is a crossover star, she appeals to

everyone, not just tennis fans and when she gets up there, you never

know what she will say. This could be good or... And the poor husband,

what will she say about him? It is great! And at the age of 30 12, tear

and win her second grand slam, she is one of the great success stories.

She rededicated her life to tennis a few years ago, almost quit after the

French Open, and re-dedicated herself to comeback to celebrate. I

think she will handle it than the first one. For a, she asked her

concentration and she should be concentrating now. She has got the

French Open coming up, she has got a chance to cement a number two spot

in the world this year and who knows? She could maybe not Serena

Williams off the top perch. She has got the game to do so. And she

reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, she can play well on

grass as well. She has got that sort of all court game and she is such a

gritty competitor. When it got tight particularly in the first set

tie-break, she raised the level of the game and that will be key as she

goes forward. Absolutely. She has got weapons, huge ground strokes,

she moves well, depends well, her attitude is good, she fights hard,

she is very fit. Carlos Rodriguez is a great coach in her corner now with

the experience he had with Justine Henin so it is all going for her now

and the confidence in winning her second slam, she could have a great

year, she has had a great one already but she could have a great

one or two before the end of the year. She was saying that she is

changing her game, she knows she must improve because she see s how

the game is evolving. You cannot sit still and she is moving into the net

more. She is picking the ball earlier than she used to, she is

defending better, these are things she is adding to her game and she

knows she has to keep working hard otherwise the other people will

catch up. It is lovely what they do after a Grand Slam event, all the

photos being taken for the official photographers and the crowd, she

will be going round there and then in the press conference and you know

all the journalists will love her coming in because they know they

will get another story. I would love to be at a press conference because

you don't know what she will say. Who knows what she will come out

with. It is so interesting that she is like this coming from China. She

has bucked the trend, she did not go through the system, she did it on

her own, got her own coach, decided to she wanted to go with and China

have followed her and gone with her. She still lives and trains there and

it is a great advert and hopefully, it will start... We talked about it

in 2011, a new generation of Chinese Asian players. We have not quite see

it yet but it will make people want to pick up a racket in China. It is

inevitable. It is happening in golf. Yes, and it will happen in tennis.

She will get millions more people in China picking up the game now, the

younger kids. It will happen, the next 20 or 30 years, China will be a

huge force in men's and women's tennis. And a word for Dominika, she

was very sweet up there, it'll be tough to accept what happened

because she had her chances but she must be proud of what she has

achieved. Yes, and breath of fresh air, what a great competitor, a

great smile, she fights hard. She is a dangerous opponent and people will

not like playing her because she is like a Lleyton Hewitt, in your face

every point, she tries hard and the quickest player on the tour. And she

has now got the confidence of getting to the final so, why not ?

She could do very well at the French Open. We are committed the end of

our transmission, the men's final tomorrow, more light on this next

week with Davis Cup, Great Britain return to the world group on clay in

San Diego. So much expected of Britain's number one there.

A lot expected of Andy Murray, it all starts on Friday at seven

o'clock on BBC Three and then moves to BBC to live from San Diego, Great

Britain against the United States. Just before we go, plenty of sport

coming up today, football focus at midday and then following that,

there will be Inspire, the Olympic journey. That will be the Winter

Olympics special so you can join Gabby Logan for that, that's at

1:15pm. And then you have athletics from Glasgow, a big year for

Glasgow, the Commonwealth Games later but it is indoor athletics,

that is live from 1:45pm. And the world indoor Bowls Championships

continues over on BBC Two, and that is at 2:30pm. Semifinals they today.

So, John, thank you very much and we will look forward to tomorrow.

Rafael Nadal versus stand Wawrinka. 's Stanislav Muriklin. Goodbye. --

Stanislas Wawrinka.