Past Perfect Senses

I don't think it happens too often that we find Kim Clijsters blank-faced shocked, or bewildered, sighy, sighy-eyed, in a what-can-I-do? kind of mood.

But badass Li Na was majestic, imperial; fierce, fearless, wide-eyed (as wide as it is possible for slit-eyes); hitting deep, deliberate shots as if she were wearing her sunshades and a wide-brimmed hat and had a whole afternoon to hit them, and the insanest missiled-rolled super-angled forehands. All while being honest-charming-funny in her interviews.

And yet.

Things just never go my way, do they?

After a nerveless one and a half sets in the 2011 Australian Open Final in Melbourne (and despite an early break, which seems only par for the course for her, looking back at her previous matches), Li Na was defeated 6-3, 3-6, 3-6 by Kim, champ that she is, who hung tough, kept at it, split-retrieved seemingly ungettable shots (that does not make her a counterpuncher now, Vijay Amritraj, does it? The best players play very good defense. Vera is not a counterpuncher because she plays great defense. It makes her a smart player who never gives up. Are you forgetting the way she tries to control the point each time, the way she looks to attack, and has the acey first serves, the rather sound second serves, the cutting-and-accurate groundstrokes, and the pretty volleys to do it (and plays doubles, to boot)? That is, unless she runs into Kim at a final in New York,1 or a semi in Australia.2 But hey she beat her 3 of the last 5 times they met!!3), and forced the latter into spray-painting the court with the yellow balls, and who, with her this-is-mine mindset now needs to pay a few dollars extra luggage fee at the airport to bring home her 4th Grand Slam silverware.

In any case.

It looks like a good start to the year. And as Li Na said, when going into a match—finals or no—you just go play.


1 2010.
2 This year.
3 Including the 2010 Wimbledon quarters and the WTA Tour Championships. And what about Novak??