Hollywood, FL 6/6/2011 3:02:40 AM
Li Na Makes History at French Open
Chinese Player Makes History at Grand Slam Event
Chinese tennis player Li Na made history on Saturday by becoming the first Chinese player ever to win a Grand Slam single's title.
Na beat Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-4, 7-6 (0) in Paris to win the French Open women's singles title. It is the first Grand Slam title ever for Li, who turned 29 in February.
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Schiavone, the defending champion, made only 12 winners in comparison to Li's 31. Schiavone also lost the last 9 points of the match after getting upset with a line call that she thought was wrong.
"China tennis -- we're getting bigger and bigger," said Na, who may rise to a career-best #4 ranking on Monday.
In January, Li became the first Chinese woman to reach a Grand Slam final at the Australian Open. She lost the match to Belgian star Kim Clijsters but says that the experience of that loss helped her in her victory at Roland Garros.
"I had no experience. I was very nervous," said Li of her experience at the Australian Open. "For my second time in a final, I had the experience. I knew how to do it. And I had more self-confidence."
(Sources: Associated Press)
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