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WIMBLEDON 2013: AgnieszkaRadwanska needs eight match points to get past Chinese star Na

 
 
It took her eight match points and two hours and 43 minutes, yet Agnieszka Radwanska remains on course to reach her second Wimbledon ladies’ singles final in two years.
The world No4, the highest seed left standing at this year’s topsy-turvy Championships, beat 2011 French Open winner Li Na to set up a semi-final against Sabine Lisicki on Thursday.
Martina Navratilova described playing Radwanska as like suffering ‘death by 1000 cuts’ before this afternoon’s match, such is the Pole’s reputation for making her opponent play one extra shot. But boy did she make hard work of this one.
She's done it! Agnieszka Radwanska celebrates after defeating Li Na
She's done it! Agnieszka Radwanska celebrates after defeating Li Na

Last four: Agnieszka Radwanska needed eight match points to see off Li Na
Last four: Agnieszka Radwanska needed eight match points to see off Li Na
At times, you could be forgiven for thinking nobody really wants to lift the Venus Rosewater dish on Centre Court on Saturday afternoon, such was the prevalence for wild shots and strange decision-making in this women’s quarter-final.
The two short rain breaks, which meant the match finished under the Centre Court roof, did little to encourage a sense of momentum, but strings of errors from both players prevented this match bubbling up into a classic.
This year’s champion, you feel, may simply be the last woman standing. Na wore thick black strapping on her right knee and Radwanska was clearly struggling with her movement by the end of the match.
The 24-year-old had flesh-coloured tape on both quadriceps, red tape to support the base of her back and then needed further strapping on her right thigh following treatment after losing the second set. Quite how this fits in with the strict dress code at the All England Club, however, is anybody’s guess.
Both players began by losing their opening service games to love and Na, with her powerful forehand and new-found willingness to come to the net, looked to have the first set sealed when she served for it at 40-30 up in the tenth game.
Marching on: Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska returns to Li Na as she makes the semi-final
Marching on: Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska returns to Li Na as she makes the semi-final
Heading for glory: Radwanska progresses to the semi-final
Heading for glory: Radwanska progresses to the semi-final
The Centre Court scoreboard even showed the Chinese player had clinched the first set 6-4, only for Na to squander four set points and hand the advantage back to Radwanska. The No4 seed again came from behind to win the resulting tie break 7-5, as Na lost the last four points.
Fortune, though, began to favour Na in the second set. Radwanska broke Na in the third game but the 31-year-old profited from four lucky net cords to break back in the eighth and then break again when Radwanska served to stay in the set.
The momentum seemed to be with Na, but delays for Radwanska to receive treatment and then a second rain break turned the match in the Pole’s favour. Na’s forehand, which caused such damage in the earlier part of the match, became increasingly erratic and the world No 6 presented her opponent with a string of opportunities to extend her lead. Radwanska made hard work of taking them, needing five break points to win the fifth game, but eventually found herself serving for the match.
Even then it was torturous. It took Radwanska seven deuces and eight match points and she was on her knees by the end, squatting to the floor to return a low backhand and then finding the energy to dance in delight.

All over: Li Na saw her challenge come to an end
All over: Li Na saw her challenge come to an end

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