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Li Na to Face Maria Sharapova For Spot in Women's Final In one half of the women's semifinal at the French Open, China's Li Na will take on Russian-American Maria Sharapova in what is sure to be a great match. Sharapova is still on the comeback trail and looking for a Grand Slam victory, while Li is looking to prove that she isn't just a flash in the pan who got lucky at the 2010 Australian Open. There, she lost to Kim Clijsters. With Clijsters out of the picture, Li has the potential to face either defending champion Francesca Schiavone or France's Marion Bartoli if she does indeed beat Sharapova. Still, as great a win as that would be for her, it still wouldn't be enough for her to gain respect among the ranks of top female tennis players. If she wants that respect, she must simply win it all. Let me put it this way. Take a look at last year's French Open. I'm not by any means a tennis fan, but I know most of the big players. Naturally, I had no idea who Francesca Schiavone was. Yet, the then-No. 17 Schiavone overcame the odds and beat heavily favored No. 7 Samantha Stosur to win at Roland Garros. If Li can face Schiavone in the final and defeat her, then she will finally get the respect she deserves. Otherwise, she is in danger of being labeled as a perennial runner-up
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