29-year-old Chinese tennis player Li Na became the first Asian ever, male or female, to win a Grand Slam singles title after beating defending champion Francesca Schiavone (of Italy) 6-4, 7-6 in the French Open final on Saturday.
Li’s countrywomen Yan Zi, Zheng Jie and Sun Tiantian had won Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles and mixed doubles before, but it’s a first for Asian in the singles competition. Li will also rise to #4 in world ranking, equalling Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm’s Asian record in WTA history. Image by Yanior.