Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova are set for a rematch of their Australian Open 2014 final at this week’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after they’ve won their respective fourth round matches on Tuesday.
Cibulkova was the first to advance after the 12th-seed eliminated eighth-seed Petra Kvitova in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
“I played really well today,” Cibulkova said. “I was returning well and I was just very solid from the groundstrokes. She always goes for short points and quick rallies with her serve and first shots, but I hung in there and kept up with her in the rallies, and I’m really glad I could make it through today.”
Li Na, the top seed of this Premier Mandatory event, was the last to advance after eliminating Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1, 6-4. Though the scores may seemed ordinary, for those who watched the match they would have seen the Chinese superstar struggling to close the match, needing 11 match points in a 10-deuce final game to secure the victory.
“I think all the match I was feeling pretty good, except the last game!” Li said. “The funny thing was that in the beginning of the game I was feeling tight, nervous, and then I was like, ‘What’s going on? Why can’t I finish the match?’ And she wasn’t giving up, and was defending so well. It was really tough.
“All I can say is wow, she saved a lot of match points. She’s pretty good.”
The Li Na vs Dominika Cibulkova Indian Wells 2014 quarterfinal match is slated on Thursday. The other quarterfinal to take place on this day is between Sloane Stephens and Flavia Pennetta.
