Li Na Defeats Dominika Cibulkova to Take Australian Open Title

After losses in 2011 and 2013

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Saeed Khan / AFP / Getty Images

China's Li Na reacts after a point against Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova during the women's singles final on day 13 of the 2014 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Jan. 25, 2014.

Third time’s a charm for China’s Li Na, who won the Australian Open Saturday in a 7-6 (3), 6-0 win over Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.

The 31-year-old Li lost to Kim Clijsters in 2011 and to Victoria Azarenka last year, but played briskly past No. 20-seeded Cibulkova Saturday night in a 27-minute second set after taking the first in a tiebreaker, reports the Associated Press.

Li Na charmed the crowd when she thanked her husband, former coach and traveling companion Shan Jiang.

“So thanks for him give up everything just traveling with me to be my hitting partner, fix the drinks, fix the racket. So thanks a lot, you are a nice guy,” she said, pausing for the laughter. “Also you are so lucky, find me.”

[AP]