Kim Clijsters, Li Na Clash in Women's Final Saturday Night

Lauren LynchJan 28, 2011

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If the match-up of Saturday's Australian Open women's singles final looks familiar, it's probably because the heavily-anticipated matchup has already happened once in the early days of 2011.

Just 14 days ago, China's Li Na defeated Belgium's Kim Clijsters to win the title at Sydney, stunning more than a few who had determined the tournament to be a mere warm-up for Clijsters' ascension to No. 1 and her second straight Grand Slam title.

Two weeks, 548 miles and six matches apiece later, Na and Clijsters face each other again with history on the line.

For Clijsters, it would be a second straight Slam victory, her first outside of Flushing Meadows. Clijsters will take over the No. 1 spot in the world regardless of whether she wins or loses the title against Na.

For Na, it's the chance to make history as the first Asian woman to win a Slam, and capture the imagination of a nation of 1.33 billion that takes it sports very seriously.

If you don't believe that, consider that Chinese basketball star Yao Ming was voted into the NBA All-Star game on Thursday thanks largely to his online support from home, despite the fact that he suffered a injury likely to end his career earlier in the season and has played in only five games the last two seasons combined.

If Na wins the title, she will leap from 11th to third in the rankings as the Top 10 will completely jumble from its previously look, largely based on Clijsters and Na's ascension. Even if Na loses, she will move up to sixth.

Clijsters leads the all-time series, but Li has won two of the last three, both on hard courts similar to what tonight's match will be played on.

Here's a look at the match-up.

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Li Na (9) vs. Kim Clijsters (3)

Na
Current Rank: 11th; Season Record: 11-0.
Career Record: 368-133; Career Titles: 4.
All-Time Australian Record: 18-5.
Australian Open History: 2005 - 3rd round; 2006 - 1st round; 2007 - 4th round; 2008 - 3rd round; 2009 - DNP; 2010 - semifinals; 2011 - finals.

Clijsters
Current Rank: 3rd; Season Record: 10-1.
Career Record 490-115; Career Titles: 40.
All-Time Australian Open Record: 33-8.
Australian Open History: 2000 – 1st round; 2001 – 4th round; 2002 – semifinals; 2003 – semifinals; 2004 – finals; 2006 – semifinals; 2007 – semifinals; 2010 – 3rd round; 2011 –finals.

Head to Head - Clijsters leads 3-2: 2006, Sydney: Clijsters 6-3, 6-1; 2006 Wimbledon, Clijsters 6-4, 7-5; 2007 Sydney, Clijsters 6-1, 1-6, 7-5; 2007 Miami, Li 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; 2009 Clijsters, 6-2, 6-4; 2010 Sydney, Li 7-6(3), 6-3).