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| China's Li Na Becomes First Chinese Player to Win Tennis Grand Slam Title |
PARIS – China’s tennis star Li Na crushed defending champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 in the French Open women’s single final to become the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
By winning the Roland Garros title, Li Na is expected to rise to World No.4 on the WTA rankings (as of Monday, June 6, 2011), setting a national record for China and equalling the highest-ever ranking by a woman from Asia (previously held by Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm).
"I was nervous but I didn't want to show to my opponent," said Li, who appeared to be letting the match slip away in the second set. "I was a little bit shaking."
The crowd at Roland Garros was dotted with red Chinese flags and a small vocal group supporting Schiavone. They watched as Li dropped her serve for the only time late in the second set, but then won the final nine points of the match to earn her first major title.
"I couldn't really push forward from the baseline," Schiavone said. "She deserved to win. One has to lose, one has to win. She deserves everything."
On Sunday, five-time champion Rafael Nadal will face Roger Federer in the men's final.
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| Li Na's Historical Victory in French Open Women's Single Final |
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| China's Li Na Ecstatic after victory against defending champion Francesca Schiavone |
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| China's Li Na in Action against Francesca Schiavone in French Open 2011 (Women's Final) |
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| China's Li Na in Action against Francesca Schiavone in French Open 2011 (Women's Final) |
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| Defending Champion Francesca Schiavone couldn't prevail against Li Na |
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