The women's final will be a fascinating battle between Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova. Will it be third time lucky for China's fourth seed or will the Slovakian surprise packet cap a brilliant tournament with the title?
Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage of the 2014 Australian Open women’s final. After an action-packed tournament it’s down to fourth seed Li Na of China and No.20 seed Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia to fight it out for the title.
Li leads the head-to-head between the two players 4-0. Cibulkova is playing in her first Grand Slam final, while Li has appeared in three finals with her one and only Grand Slam title coming at the French Open in 2011. Li finished runner-up at the Australian Open in 2011 and 2013.
The gorgeous @ChrissieEvert back in Aus & ready to kick of preparations with Daphne #ausopen pic.twitter.com/SVOa0wHMGE — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
While Cibulkova is yet to defeat Li she is playing some of the most dominant tennis of her career, having beaten Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep and Agnieszka Radwanska on her way to tonight's final.
Li Na wins the toss and elects to receive.
After the searing heat of the first week of the tournament it has been a relatively cool day in Melbourne today. Doesn't appear to be much rain about on the radar and the roof is open at Rod Laver Arena as the players warm up.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 1-0
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 2-0
Li looking more composed on her serve than her opponent and she consolidates the break.
Li really attacking Cibulkova's second serve.
More break points for Li as Cibulkova continues to struggle on serve.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 2-1
Cibulkova is on the board after staving off more break points.
Shaky start for Cibulkova on her serve and she's down 15-30 early.
A Cibulkova double fault sets up the first break point of the match.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 1-0
A blistering backhand winner sets up another break point for Li and another Cibulkova double fault decides the first game!
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 3-1
Li really striking her backhand nicely as she holds serve with relative comfort.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 3-2
Double faults still an issue for Cibulkova, but she holds serve.
Searing backhand winner from Cibulkova as she appears to be warming to the task.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 3-3
Li's first double fault of the night hands two break points to Cibulkova and another double fault gifts her the break back!
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 3-4
Cibulkova sends down a searing forehand winner in a service game she holds comfortably.
#Cibulkova has found her stride. She holds serve to take the lead 4-3 over #LiNa #ausopen pic.twitter.com/5GP0NEReSf — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 4-4
Li Na levels, but she's got a fight on her hands now after being the dominant player early.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 4-5
Li shows great athleticism to chase down a Cibulkova drop shot to take it to deuce then sets up a break point with a backhand winner, but Cibulkova steadies and holds.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 5-5
Li sends down an ace to even up the first set.
#LiNa holds serve to level it back at 5-all. Did you expect it to be this tight? #ausopen pic.twitter.com/qnGZfjAy8d — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
Another Cibulkova double fault gives Li a small window of opportunity at 15-30.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 6-5
Li will serve for the first set after an unforced error from Cibulkova.
Another crisp forehand winner from Li gets her service game for the first set off to a great start! Can she push through and claim the set?
Li with some nervous moments at 30-40.
Li misses a set point and is now facing break point!
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 6-6
And we're off to a tie-break as Cibulkova digs deep to break back!
Li quickly with the mini-break and leads 3-1.
Li racing away with the tie-break now at 5-1 as they change ends.
Li stops playing and challenges a line call but gets it wrong. Still leads 5-2.
The set is on Li's racquet at 6-3.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3),
There it is! Li takes the first set after Cibulkova finds the net.
First set to #LiNa 7-6 in a tiebreak. What a great match this is! Fave moment so far? #ausopen pic.twitter.com/5XepCi1cwN — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3)
Cibulkova quickly shakes off the disappointment of losing the first set to push Li to 0-30 on her serve, but it's 30-30 quick as a flash.
In 27 of last 29 Slam finals on women’s side, the winner of 1st set has ended up winning the title - the only 2 exceptions have been Li Na. — ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) January 25, 2014
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3), 1-0
Li holds to go ahead early in the second.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3), 1-0
Cibulkova with her seventh double fault of the match as Li takes her to 30-30 in her first service game of the second set.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3), 2-0
A blistering Li return sets up a break point and she converts to break Cibulkova early.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3), 3-0
Li consolidates the break and has one hand on the trophy at a set up and 3-0. Does Cibulkova have any more tricks left in the bag?
Danger signs for Cibulkova as Li gets a break point.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3), 4-0
And Li converts to take the double break!
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3), 5-0
Li under pressure early in the fifth game of the second set, but she holds to edge one step closer to her second Grand Slam title.
#Li breaks to love to lead #Cibulkov 7-6 4-0. First serve percentage up to 57% from 13% in set 1. Has struck 31 winners to Cibulkova's 10. — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
Li finds the line with a clean backhand winner to take it to 0-15 and again to make it 0-30!
Cibulkova sends it long to give Li two championship points!
Cibulkova saves one championship point.
Li Na (CHN) [4] v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [20] 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
There it is! Cibulkova sends it long to hand Li the 2014 Australian Open women's title!
A jubilant Li celebrates with her coach and family in her players' box after breezing through the second set. Cibulkova was brave late in the first set after a hesitant start, but had no answer to Li's game when she hit top gear in the second set.
#Li is the 1st woman over 30 years of age (at 31 years, 334 days) to win #ausopen since Aussie Margaret Court in 1973 pic.twitter.com/PMJUeks2DS — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
Li Na wins her second Grand Slam title after claiming the French Open in 2011. It was a case of third time lucky for Li in Australian Open finals having stumbled at the last hurdle in 2011 and 2013.
Li Na goes straight her player box to celebrate with her team. #ausopen pic.twitter.com/0nuXjZDJxb — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
Dominika Cibulkova has a smile as she lowers the microphones to her level then gives a tearful and heartfelt speech as she accepts her runners-up trophy - class act!
An emotional #Cibulkova receives her runners up trophy to a strong cheer from the crowd #ausopen pic.twitter.com/kVtOtFqjte — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
Li draws laughter from the crowd as she thanks her agent for making her rich!
"Thanks a lot - you're a nice guy ... and so lucky!" - Li Na to her husband in a great acceptance speech.
Post-match interview gold from #Li. Can't wait for her press conference. pic.twitter.com/hVY3fPJW06 — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
Li was ahead in most stats in the final, as you'd expect, but perhaps the most telling one was winners - which finished 34-11 in her favour.
#Li & #Cibulkova with the #ausopen silverware & #tennis treasure @ChrissieEvert pic.twitter.com/Ijai7b6Bqu — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2014
So there it is - Li Na takes out the 2014 Australian Open with a straight sets win over a brave Dominika Cibulkova. One of the great comeback stories given she was just centimetres away from losing to Lucie Safarova in the third round!
That concludes our rolling coverage of the 2014 Australian Open women's final. Congratulations to China's Li Na, who is a worthy winner, and well played to Dominika Cibulkova, who battled hard and can be proud of her tournament. Please join us tomorrow for our coverage of the men's final between Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka - it promises to be a great match!
