Chinese ace beats defending champion Francesca Schiavone in French Open final to become first Asian tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title
Chinese ace beats defending champion Francesca Schiavone in French Open final to become first Asian tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title
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China's Li Na became the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles title with a 6-4 7-6 (7/0) victory over defending champion Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final on Saturday.
China's Li Na celebrates her 6-4 7-6 (7/0) victory over Italy's Francesca
Schiavone in the French Open final in Paris on Saturday. pic/afp
The Chinese player began the stronger of the two and after missing out on a break point in the opening game, broke Schiavone to move 4-3 ahead. Li took the first set in 39 minutes.
The 29-year-old was serving superbly and increased her advantage with a break at the start of the second set.
The point of the match, ending with a lovely volley from Schiavone, gave the Italian a chance to respond but Li simply fired an ace. She then had an opening to move 4-1 ahead but a netted forehand.
Schiavone saved two more break points at 4-2 as she battled desperately to hang onto the trophy, and in the next game she took her opportunity when Li faltered for the first time.
Suddenly it was the sixth seed who was under pressure on her serve, and Schiavone felt she should have had a set point when a backhand from Li was called out but then overruled.
Instead the Chinese player held to force a tie-break which she won comfortably in the end.
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