Li Na turns from badminton to Grand Slam champion

PARIS (AP) - If China's 1.3 billion people want to thank someone for their country's first Grand Slam singles title, they can say "merci" to Li Na's former badminton coach.

The 29-year-old Li became the first from her country to win a major tennis title Saturday when she beat defending champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the French Open final.

"My dad wanted me to become a badminton champion, that's why he made me play tennis," Li said of her father, who also played badminton. "After two years of training, the badminton coach told me I was not made for badminton and that I should rather play tennis."

How right he was.

Li won the final nine points on Court Philippe Chatrier, then dropped to the ground to celebrate. When she got up, her back covered in clay, she was the last woman standing at Roland Garros.

"I thought about what I should do in such a moment if I became the champion," Li said. "But to fall on the ground at the end of the match was not what I had imagined. It wasn't planned. I just couldn't help it."

Tennis is considered an elite sport in China, and while participation is rapidly increasing, it still trails basketball, soccer and table tennis, among others. But Li's victory was big news back home, where the match finished shortly after 11 p.m. local time on a holiday weekend.

State broadcaster CCTV posted the banner, "We love you Li Na," on their gushing coverage, and announcer Tong Kexin pronounced: "This has left a really deep impression on the world."

People at the Green Bank Tennis Club on Beijing's northern edge gathered to eat barbecued food, drink beer and watch the events from Paris on a big-screen TV set up on a court. Some waved Chinese flags during the postmatch trophy ceremony.

The title was only the fifth of Li's career, and first on clay. She was broken only once by the defending champion, while she converted two of her eight break points - one in each set. She finished with 31 winners, while Schiavone had only 12.

"I couldn't really push forward from the baseline," Schiavone said. "She deserved to win. One has to lose, one has to win. She deserves everything."

Li started the year playing well. She won her fourth title in Sydney just before the Australian Open, then became the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam final in the year's first major. She lost, however, falling to Kim Clijsters in three sets.

This time around, Li was more prepared for the pressure.

"At the Australian Open, it was the first time that I was in the final (of a major). I had no experience. I was very nervous," Li said. "For my second time in a final, I had the experience. I knew how to do it. And I had more self-confidence."

In the first set, Li took a 3-2 lead when Schiavone sent a forehand wide. Li then held at love in her next two service games and finally won the set when Schiavone sent a forehand long.

"She (kept) me really far away from the net or inside the court, so I was always too (defensive)," Schiavone said. "With the slice, (it) was not easy because she has good timing and she has good preparation with (her) legs."

Li opened the second set with another break. In the second game, Schiavone earned her first break point of the match, but Li responded with an ace - her third of three in the match.

Schiavone did manage to break back to even the score at 4-4, but both held the rest of the way despite a contentious call in the 12th game.

Li hit a backhand that was originally called out, giving Schiavone a set point. But Li argued the call, and chair umpire Louise Engzell ruled the ball was in.

Li won the next point to even the set at 6-6, and then won all seven points in the tiebreaker.

"That ball was out," Schiavone said. "Obviously, I think it was a big mistake. But it's up to the tournament and others to watch that match again and evaluate the call."

But no matter what is decided when the replays are watched, the name on the trophy will not change.

"Today is the dream come true," Li said. "Not so many player can win (a) Grand Slam."