Li carries Asian hopes in Paris final
Source: Agencies |
June 4, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LI Na's second chance to become the first Asian to clinch a singles grand slam title today has stirred patriotic fervor among home fans hoping to celebrate another milestone in China's inexorable rise in the sporting world.
Trailblazer Li already has the distinction of being Asia's first to break into a grand slam singles final after her brilliant run at the Australian Open in January.
There, her title bid was foiled by Belgian Kim Clijsters, but glory beckons again for the 29-year-old from Wuhan, who may have her best chance of clinching the elusive major trophy against Italian champion Francesca Schiavone in today's French Open final.
"If someone can be behind you and push you a lot, I like it," Li told reporters at Roland Garros yesterday. "I don't even think of tomorrow as a final, it's just the one match."
Asked why she was only flourishing at 29, she hit back saying: "I'm not old, why do you think I'm old. I'm still young?" she laughed.
While the match is likely to be watched by only a smattering of Chinese fans, a massive home audience will watch the match live on television and bloggers are already bubbling with anticipation.
"I'm rooting for you, I wish you well. You are the pride of China and we've got your back!" one with the handle JoJoJiao wrote on the microblogging site Weibo. "Go Li Na! China's 1.3 billion people are behind you," said another.
Li's title shot on the Paris clay attracted 1.7 million followers yesterday on Weibo, while China's foreign ministry website also gushed with praise.
Hard work
"Li Na's first charge into the French Open final match is the result of years of hard work and also embodies the rapid development of tennis in China," China's ambassador to France Kong Quan said according to the Foreign Ministry release.
"Using uncommon strength, she soundly defeated Russia's Maria Sharapova and wrote the glory and charm of China's women's tennis players into the books of French tennis history," he said, referring to the Li's Russian semifinal opponent.
Despite growing adulation from her success, including becoming China's first WTA title-winner in 2004 and first grand slam quarterfinalist at Wimbledon two years later, Li has proved a reluctant standard-bearer for Chinese tennis.
Chinese fans will be eager to see what surprises Li can produce in the French capital.
Meanwhile, unseeded Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka won the women's doubles final yesterday after dominating India's Sania Mirza and Russia's Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-3. On Thursday, Scott Lipsky of the US and Casey Dellacqua of Australia beat the defending champions and top seed Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 7-6 (6), 4-6, 10-7 in the mixed doubles final.
Trailblazer Li already has the distinction of being Asia's first to break into a grand slam singles final after her brilliant run at the Australian Open in January.
There, her title bid was foiled by Belgian Kim Clijsters, but glory beckons again for the 29-year-old from Wuhan, who may have her best chance of clinching the elusive major trophy against Italian champion Francesca Schiavone in today's French Open final.
"If someone can be behind you and push you a lot, I like it," Li told reporters at Roland Garros yesterday. "I don't even think of tomorrow as a final, it's just the one match."
Asked why she was only flourishing at 29, she hit back saying: "I'm not old, why do you think I'm old. I'm still young?" she laughed.
While the match is likely to be watched by only a smattering of Chinese fans, a massive home audience will watch the match live on television and bloggers are already bubbling with anticipation.
"I'm rooting for you, I wish you well. You are the pride of China and we've got your back!" one with the handle JoJoJiao wrote on the microblogging site Weibo. "Go Li Na! China's 1.3 billion people are behind you," said another.
Li's title shot on the Paris clay attracted 1.7 million followers yesterday on Weibo, while China's foreign ministry website also gushed with praise.
Hard work
"Li Na's first charge into the French Open final match is the result of years of hard work and also embodies the rapid development of tennis in China," China's ambassador to France Kong Quan said according to the Foreign Ministry release.
"Using uncommon strength, she soundly defeated Russia's Maria Sharapova and wrote the glory and charm of China's women's tennis players into the books of French tennis history," he said, referring to the Li's Russian semifinal opponent.
Despite growing adulation from her success, including becoming China's first WTA title-winner in 2004 and first grand slam quarterfinalist at Wimbledon two years later, Li has proved a reluctant standard-bearer for Chinese tennis.
Chinese fans will be eager to see what surprises Li can produce in the French capital.
Meanwhile, unseeded Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka won the women's doubles final yesterday after dominating India's Sania Mirza and Russia's Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-3. On Thursday, Scott Lipsky of the US and Casey Dellacqua of Australia beat the defending champions and top seed Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 7-6 (6), 4-6, 10-7 in the mixed doubles final.
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