Li Na wins women's French Open final
Li Na wins it all at Roland Garros
PARIS - History-making tennis legend Li Na notched the first-ever grand slam women's singles title for China and Asia, beating defending champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-4, 7-6(7/0) in the French Open final here on Saturday.
The triumph also gifted Li Na a great rise from No 7 to No 4 on WTA rankings.
Boasting far more direct winners than Schiavone, Li Na, 29, dominated the match with her powerful and sharp-angled strokes, breaking the Italian's third serve game in the fist set and the first in the second set.
Schiavone, 30, a dark horse in last year's French Open who had eliminated Li Na in the then third round, played all out today with all her weapons, such as high-bounced serves, great volleys and spinned balls.
Thanks to Li Na's unforced errors, Schiavone broke Li's fourth serve game to tie the score 4-4 in the second set.
From 5-5 to 6-6, the tough battle was interrupted several times by checking the ball was in or out. In the deciding game, Li Na stormed to victory with a 7-0.
In such a great final, Li Na deserved the win.
Li Na of China returns the ball to Francesca Schiavone of Italy during their women's final at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 4, 2011.
Li Na of China reacts during her women's final against Francesca Schiavone of Italy at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 4, 2011.
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Li Na of China celebrates defeating Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the women's final of the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, June 4, 2011.
VOA Sports June 04, 2011 - At the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Saturday, Li Na became the first Chinese player, and the first player from any Asian country, to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Li defeated last year's women's French Open winner, Italy's Francesca Schiavone, 6-4, 7-6.
Both players are age 29, which is considered old in the world of tennis. When Schiavone took the 2010 title, she became the oldest first-time women's champion since professionals began competing in 1968. She also was the first Italian Grand Slam women's champion.
Li, who was seeded sixth in the French tournament, was defeated in the Australian Open final earlier this year. She is now expected to jump to number four in the international rankings. Her victory also could spark renewed interest in tennis in her Chinese homeland.
Both players won six games in the final set, leading to a tie-breaker that Li won 7-0. When Schiavone hit long on match point, Li celebrated her victory by falling on her back onto the clay Paris court. It was her first title on clay.