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| China's Li Na with French Open cup |
PARIS: China's Li Na made sporting history at the French Open on Saturday when she became the first player from his country to win a Grand Slam singles title.
The 29-year-old from Wuhan defeated defending champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) to take her place in the pantheon of Chinese sports stars.
Li clinched the watershed win with a superb 7-0 tie-break performance in the second set, falling onto her back in the red dirt when Schiavone hit long on match point.
It was a thrilling display of shot-making from the Chinese player who has said she hopes that by winning a Grand Slam title she will act as a catalyst for the growth of tennis in her giant homeland.
For 30-year-old Schiavone it was a bitter pill to swallow one year after she upset the odds to become Italy’s first and so far only Grand Slam women’s champion.
“I was 4-2 up and she tried to come back, but I just had to stand up again and I made it. I think everyone in China will be so excited,” said Li, who has been a pioneer for the sport in her country throughout her career.
Then we were closer. One has to lose, one has to win. She deserved to win.”In what was the the oldest Grand Slam singles final in 21 years, the combined ages of the two players was 60 years and 79 days.
