THERE'S nothing like a repeat of a great final, but today's face-off between defending Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters and 2011 runner-up Li Na will be bittersweet.
The pair meet today for the first time since Clijsters's victory over Li at Melbourne Park last year, but only one will earn the opportunity to take home the silverware in 2012.
Nevertheless, Clijsters is relishing the chance to take on Li in the fourth round. ''It's going to be nice to play Li Na, to have the final from last year, because it was such a great match for both of us to be a part of,'' Clijsters said. The 28-year-old Belgian beat Li 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in last year's final. Because of injury this was her only title for the year.
Li, 29, won the next grand slam she entered, the French Open, becoming the first Asian player to win a major singles title.
Asked if the Roland Garros victory had changed Li's mental approach, Clijsters said she was in the dark. ''Unfortunately, I wasn't around for too much longer after I played her last year, so I don't know.'' But Clijsters said her own game had improved, ''emotionally, tactic-wise, physically and confidence'', while her troublesome hip was ''no problem''.
''It's great for me to be in a situation … where I still feel like I can improve on all those things and I'm not stuck to where I feel like I'm at my top level … Look at [Rafael] Nadal, [Roger] Federer. You know, you can always improve. You can always become better. You can always work out harder in the gym and work out differently.''
Clijsters was not fazed entering the tournament, having not played for most of the previous year. She said success on court boiled down to having a solid routine. ''They're so important. You have your game that you know that you're going to stick to. I think when you're a little bit older, you're capable of, in your mind, to set your mind to what it is like to play a match again.
''OK, you need to get used to the emotions and the pressure and the stress a little bit, but when it comes down to finding your own confidence, I mean, that's there,'' she said.
Clijsters enters today's match with a 5-2 career advantage over Li. Still, Li believes she has what it takes to win, seeing many of her own strengths in Clijsters. ''Someone make good draw,'' Li said. ''This only I can say. I think we play the same way, like play against a mirror. After [the 2011 Australian Open final], I was feeling I really can win the grand slam. What can I do? Only thing is, I just try my best tennis on the court.''
Clijsters proceeded to the fourth round after vanquishing Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, on Friday. Li, however, secured a fourth-round berth after Anabel Medina Garrigues twisted her ankle and retired while trailing 3-0. Li said it was not the best way to win a match.
''It was really tough, because after she [Garrigues] has the tape … she tried to continue play. So I don't know [if] it's like real or fake, you know. I mean, some players they do that.
''After two point, I saw she couldn't running and she started to cry,'' she said. ''I have to say [I'm] so sorry for her, because I know the injury for tennis athlete is bad thing. I wish she was soon as possible come back to the court.''
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