15 January 2014 | Tennis SA

China’s Li Na opens proceedings on Rod Laver Arena on day three of the Australian Open.

The fourth seed is playing for the South Australian community of Watervale in the AO Blitz.

Watervale Tennis Club president David Long said the town was excited to be represented by Li, who has finished runner-up at the Australian Open twice in the past three years.

“We think it will be third time lucky for her this year,” he said. “We’re over the moon to have finished in the top 10 and have a player like Li. Everyone is pretty excited and certainly getting behind her. The television is glued to the tennis and everyone is talking about it.”

Li faces an interesting second round match, where she meets Swiss qualifier Belinda Bencic, the world’s top-ranked junior. Bencic, who is coached by Martina Hingis’ mother, is highly touted and has impressed to qualify for her first grand slam tournament at 16.

Long isn’t worried that Bencic, who is representing East Melbourne in Victoria, could upset Li tomorrow.

“This young junior will be in for a tennis lesson,” he said.

To find out more about the AO Blitz, visit aoblitz.com.au.

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