Li Na upsets world No 1 in Hua Hin

In front of 3,000 spectators at the packed stadium, the 2010 French Open champion came back from a mid-match lapse in concentration to win the friendly match believed to be a lucky event leading up to the Australian Open. Kim Clijsters and Azarenka, who won the tournament in the past two years, went on to win the titles in Melbourne.

The two blasted fierce baseline shots at each other but it was the world No 1 who committed more errors. Although she dropped the first set with a double fault and trailed 1-2 in the second, Azarenka, provoked by her boyfriend RedFoo’s smash hit “Sexy and I know it” played during the break, showed her disco moves to entertain the crowd. Too bad the American electronic music pop artist had to leave on Friday night to promote his new single as a solo singer.

Although the Belarussian reeled off five games in a row to level scores, she again produced uncharacteristic errors and lost the super tie-break. Both the players left last night, Li Na heading to Shenzhen and Azarenka to Brisbane.

Lawn Tennis Association chief Suwat Liptapanlop said Bt1 million proceeds would be donated to the Hua Hin Municipality to keep the beaches clean.