Roland Garros Rewind
French Open flashback: 10 years since Li Na captured title
On the 10th anniversary of Li Na's historic title at 2011 Roland Garros, review her championship story in photos.
01
/10
Ten years ago, Li Na of China made a historic run to the 2011 Roland Garros women’s singles title. At the age of 29, Li became the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Getty Images
02
/10
Li came into Paris that year after a runner-up showing at the previous major, where she fell to Kim Clijsters in a three-set final at the 2011 Australian Open. She had also made the semifinals of her two prior clay-court events, in Madrid and Rome.
Getty Images
03
/10
After reaching the second week of Roland Garros, the 6th-seeded Li had to defeat four fellow Top 10 players in a row. First, she came back from a set down to beat No.9 seed Petra Kvitova in the round of 16.
Getty Images
04
/10
Li followed that up with straight-set wins over No.4 seed Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals and No.7 seed Maria Sharapova in the semifinals, moving into her second Grand Slam final in a row.
Getty Images
05
/10
At last, Li stared down defending champion and No.5 seed Francesca Schiavone in the final. Schiavone was on a 13-match winning streak at Roland Garros.
Getty Images
06
/10
But it was Li who came out the victor in their battle, sweeping through a flawless second-set tiebreak to prevail 6-4, 7-6(0) and earn her first major title. Li rose to a new career-high ranking of World No.4 following her win.
Getty Images
07
/10
Reuters reported that Li's championship victory was viewed by over 100 million people in her home country, the most-watched sporting event of that year in China.
Getty Images
08
/10
"I think more children, they saw the match," Li said one month later at Wimbledon. "They think, 'Okay, maybe someday I can do the same or even better than her.' I think now the children have more confidence to play professional tennis."
Getty Images
09
/10
After the 2011 Roland Garros title, Li would reach two more Grand Slam finals, with a second runner-up showing at the 2013 Australian Open before winning the trophy Down Under in 2014.
Getty Images
Latest News
-
-
Krejcikova busts a move with Alcaraz at Wimbledon winners' ball
Social Buzz • 16 hrs ago -
Italians Trevisan and Bronzetti claim WTA 125 titles
2024 Bastad 125 and Contrexeville 125 • 1 day ago -
Krejcikova meets Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte
Social Buzz • 1 day ago -
Hsieh and Zielinski win second Grand Slam title of the year at Wimbledon
2024 Wimbledon • 1 day ago -
Jamrichova claims second junior Grand Slam title of year at Wimbledon
2024 Wimbledon • 1 day ago