Li Na finds her form to start 2012 with a win

By Bill Scott Dec 31, 2011, 6:34 GMT

Perth, Australia - Li Na staged a confidence-building comeback to defeat Marion Bartoli 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, but inexperienced teammate Wu Di was unable to wrap up an opening-day tie on Saturday at the Hopman Cup mixed teams event.

Wu, ranked 421 with his ATP matches limited to wild cards into Chinese events, went down as expected to Richard Gasquet, France, who levelled the tie 1-1 with the deciding mixed doubles to come.

'I was the favourite, but the first match of year is always tough,' said the number 19 Frenchman, playing the event for the first time. 'I just want to play well this week and get ready for the Australian Open.'

Li has had her problems since making history for China with her Roland Garros Grand Slam title in June. After that, her game went into a nosedive, winning just even of 19 matches after Paris.

Li dropped the first set against 2007 Wimbledon finalist Bartoli in 44 minutes but found her confidence and form in the second set.

The world number five won the second set, then went down a break 2-3, getting the break back for 4-all.

The Frenchwoman gave it away two games later with a double-fault to set up a Li match point, with the Grand Slam winner earning victory as Bartoli returned long.

'I started played more aggressively after the first set,' said Li. 'In the first set it felt like she was playing so fast.

'I got used to it a bit after three or four games. I adjusted to the pace and played better and better. I knew if I stayed on the baseline I could not win this match.

'I had to play on more of the court, I made her move and tried everything to win.'

Bartoli, who has been in Western Australia with her family for more than a fortnight, said that despite the loss she was not gutted. 'For the first match of the season it was not bad.'

Bartoli went onto the doubles court for the first time in half a decade while partner Gasquet won the only event he played in the mixed - the French Open with Tatiana Golovin in 2004.

'I have a perfect record and I want to keep it,' he joked.