Stats Corner: Taking Down Top 2 At Slams

If Li Na is victorious against Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open final, it will be the 14th time a player has beaten a World No.1 and No.2 at the same major.

Published January 24, 2013 04:30

Stats Corner: Taking Down Top 2 At Slams

MELBOURNE, Australia - The road to her second major doesn't get any easier for Li Na, as after upending World No.2 Maria Sharapova in the semifinals of the Australian Open, she will take on World No.1 Victoria Azarenka in Saturday's final. Interestingly enough, Azarenka needs to win to stay No.1.

If Li is able to beat Azarenka, it will be the 35th time a player has defeated the world's Top 2 players at the same event, but just the 14th time at a major. Here are each of those instances at Grand Slams:

1979 US Open: Austin d. No.2 Navratilova in SF, No.1 Evert in F
1985 US Open: Mandlikova d. No.1 Evert in SF, No.2 Navratilova in F
1999 French Open: Graf d. No.2 Davenport in QF, No.1 Hingis in F
1999 US Open: S.Williams d. No.2 Davenport in SF, No.1 Hingis in F
2000 Wimbledon: V.Williams d. No.1 Hingis in QF, No.2 Davenport in F
2000 US Open: V.Williams d. No.1 Hingis in SF, No.2 Davenport in F
2001 Australian Open: Capriati d. No.2 Davenport in SF, No.1 Hingis in F
2002 French Open: S.Williams d. No.2 Capriati in SF, No.1 V.Williams in F
2003 French Open: Henin d. No.1 S.Williams in SF, No.2 Clijsters in F
2005 Australian Open: S.Williams d. No.2 Mauresmo in QF, No.1 Davenport in F
2005 Wimbledon: V.Williams d. No.2 Sharapova in SF, No.1 Davenport in F
2006 US Open: Sharapova d. No.1 Mauresmo in SF, No.2 Henin in F
2009 French Open: Kuznetsova d. No.2 S.Williams in QF, No.1 Safina in F

Li's victory over Sharapova improved her career record to 3-7 against World No.2s. She will also be 3-7 against World No.1s if she tops Azarenka. Here is a rundown of her history versus World No.1s:

2005 US Open 1r: l. to Davenport
2008 Stuttgart 2r: d. S.Williams
2009 Miami QF: l. to S.Williams
2009 Madrid 2r: l. to Safina
2010 Australian Open SF: l. to S.Williams
2010 Wimbledon QF: l. to S.Williams
2011 Australian Open SF: d. Wozniacki
2012 Madrid QF: l. to Azarenka
2012 WTA Championships RR: l. to Azarenka

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