10 of the best March 26, 2020

10 great moments: Li Na

Six years since she made the final in Miami - defeated by Serena Williams - here is a look back on 10 great moments from Li Na's ground-breaking career.

In 2004, Li Na blazed a trail for Chinese players as she became the first to win a WTA Tour title in Guangzhou. Remarkably, she had to come through qualifying to do so. — 01 /10

In 2004, Li Na blazed a trail for Chinese players as she became the first to win a WTA Tour title in Guangzhou. Remarkably, she had to come through qualifying to do so.

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Her first full season on the WTA Tour circuit came in 2005, when she would reach as high as WTA World No.33, notably reaching semifinals in Hobart and Rabat. — 02 /10

Her first full season on the WTA Tour circuit came in 2005, when she would reach as high as WTA World No.33, notably reaching semifinals in Hobart and Rabat.

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2006 brought her first Grand Slam quarterfinal – the first ever from a Chinese player. She overcame No.10 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova to reach the last eight of Wimbledon. — 03 /10

2006 brought her first Grand Slam quarterfinal – the first ever from a Chinese player. She overcame No.10 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova to reach the last eight of Wimbledon.

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She narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but scored a landmark victory over WTA World No.1 Serena Williams in Stuttgart. — 04 /10

She narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but scored a landmark victory over WTA World No.1 Serena Williams in Stuttgart.

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Her breakthrough year came in 2010, with a run to the semifinals of the Australian Open, in which she defeated Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams, pushing her into the Top 10 for the first time. — 05 /10

Her breakthrough year came in 2010, with a run to the semifinals of the Australian Open, in which she defeated Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams, pushing her into the Top 10 for the first time.

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She made the final in Australia in 2011 but after winning the first set against Kim Clijsters was unable to score the victory. — 06 /10

She made the final in Australia in 2011 but after winning the first set against Kim Clijsters was unable to score the victory.

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Her first major title arrived at the French Open on June 4, 2011. She overcame Francesca Schiavone to become the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam title. — 07 /10

Her first major title arrived at the French Open on June 4, 2011. She overcame Francesca Schiavone to become the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam title.

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After a solid 2012, she again reached the final in Melbourne in 2013, scoring notable wins over the in-form Agnieszka Radwanska and Maria Sharapova in the process. She was overcome by Victoria Azarenka, however. — 08 /10

After a solid 2012, she again reached the final in Melbourne in 2013, scoring notable wins over the in-form Agnieszka Radwanska and Maria Sharapova in the process. She was overcome by Victoria Azarenka, however.

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She made the semifinals of the 2013 US Open and the WTA Tour Championships but was undone on both occasions by Serena Williams. Nevertheless, she finished the year at a career high WTA World No.3. — 09 /10

She made the semifinals of the 2013 US Open and the WTA Tour Championships but was undone on both occasions by Serena Williams. Nevertheless, she finished the year at a career high WTA World No.3.

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That momentum continued into 2014, when she was finally able to win the Australian Open, overcoming Dominika Cibulkova 7-6, 6-0 in the final. She peaked at World No.2 but retired later in the year after a knee injury. — 10 /10

That momentum continued into 2014, when she was finally able to win the Australian Open, overcoming Dominika Cibulkova 7-6, 6-0 in the final. She peaked at World No.2 but retired later in the year after a knee injury.

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