u***r
发帖数: 4825 | 1 【 以下文字转载自 Military 讨论区 】
发信人: umner (jhq), 信区: Military
标 题: ESPN: Li Na tops Francesa Schiavone for title
发信站: BBS 未名空间站 (Sat Jun 4 12:11:10 2011, 美东)
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/french11/news/story?id=
PARIS -- China's long wait for a Grand Slam champion ended Saturday when Li
Na beat Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the French Open final.
The Australian Open runner-up celebrated by falling flat on her back in the
red clay after Schiavone hit a backhand long on match point.
[+] EnlargeLi Na
AP Photo/Michel EulerLi Na became the first Chinese player to win a grand
slam tournament, ousting defending French Open champ Francesca Schiavone in
straight sets.
"I was nervous but I didn't want to show to my opponent," said Li, who
appeared to be letting the match slip away in the second set. "I was a
little bit shaking."
The crowd at Roland Garros was dotted with red Chinese flags and a small
vocal group supporting Schiavone. They watched as Li dropped her serve for
the only time late in the second set, but then won the final nine points of
the match to earn her first major title.
"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."
On Sunday, five-time champion Rafael Nadal will face Roger Federer in the
men's final.
The title was only Li's fifth in her 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.
Li took a 3-2 lead in the first when Schiavone sent a forehand wide. She
held at love in the next two games, and then won the set when Schiavone sent
a forehand long.
The Chinese player opened the second set with her second break of the match,
and then saved Schiavone's first break point in the next game with an ace.
But Schiavone broke back in the eighth game to even the score at 4-4.
Both players held the rest of the way, but Schiavone came within two points
of winning the set on five occasions, three times at 5-4 and twice more at 6
-5.
The point that first put Schiavone that close was a bit awkward. Schiavone
sent a backhand return straight at Li, but the ball skidded off the white
baseline and under Li's racket, causing her to take a big swing and miss.
Schiavone raised her hand to apologize, and then lost the next point when
she stretched for a forehand and sent it wide.
Complete coverage
Need the scores and stats from today's matches at the French Open? Courtcast
Although Li has said she is not a big fan of playing on clay, her power and
precision worked well against Schiavone, who last year became the first
Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.
For Li, the year started well but soon took a dip.
After losing to Kim Clijsters in the Australian Open final, the 29-year-old
Li lost her next four matches. But she recovered her form shortly before the
French Open, reaching the semifinals in Madrid.
By winning Saturday, Li is expected to jump to No. 4 in the rankings,
equaling the record for the highest ranking by a woman from Asia. Japanese
player Kimiko Date-Krumm has also been ranked No. 4.
Both Li and Schiavone came into the final with plenty of experience.
Combined, they were the oldest pair in a women's Grand Slam final since
Wimbledon in 1998, when Jana Novotna, 29, beat Nathalie Tauziat, 30.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press |
|
