Li Na beats Cibulkova for maiden Australian Open title

Melbourne, Jan 25 (IANS): China’s third-seeded Li Na beat Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 to win her first Australian Open women’s singles title here Saturday.

Both players broke each other’s service twice and forced a tiebreak in the first set. Mini-breaks were exchanged in the tiebreak before Li served out to win the first set.

Cibulkova failed to hold her serve in the second set and Li took only 27 minutes to win the set and with it the match.

This is Li’s second Grand Slam title; she had previously won the 2011 French Open.