Let's do it again: Li Na has reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals heading into Wimbledon. APWIMBLEDON, England — After teaching the world a Chinese tennis lesson in Paris by winning the French Open, Li Na may have to educate her own mother on just what a big deal that was.Li became the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam title two weeks ago at Roland Garros. About 116 million people reportedly watched the match in China, but Li said her mother only sent her a text message following the victory over Francesca Schiavone to ask when she would be back home."I said, 'After Wimbledon.' And then she never sent me back again, so . . .," Li said. "I think she knows I won the tournament. I don't know if even she knows how big (the) tournament is. I didn't ask her."Ask anyone on the women's tour, though, and they'll be able to answer just fine."What she's done for her country, China, all the pride that they have to have, a Grand Slam champion from that country, is incredible," said Maria Sharapova, who won her first major title at Wimbledon in 2004.Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, who is still searching for her first major title, said Li's victory was good for tennis."I'm sure that a lot of young girls and boys in China now also want to play tennis because they want to play like Li Na," Wozniacki said. "It's great for tennis that we can have it even bigger as a sport than it is now."Li also reached the final at the Australian Open, losing to Kim Clijsters. But while two straight Grand Slam finals has Li among the favorites at Wimbledon along with Sharapova, Wozniacki and the Williams sisters, she doesn't quite agree."You win the French Open (on clay), doesn't mean . . . you can do well in Wimbledon," said Li, who chatted briefly with Schiavone on Saturday as rain interrupted her practice schedule. "Change of surface. Totally different."So what I say before: French is over."Li has twice made the quarterfinals at the All England Club, including in 2010. In the first round, she will face Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia."I always like to do better than last year," said Li, who could face 2008 Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie of China in the third round.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Li gunning for third straight Grand Slam final
Let's do it again: Li Na has reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals heading into Wimbledon. APWIMBLEDON, England — After teaching the world a Chinese tennis lesson in Paris by winning the French Open, Li Na may have to educate her own mother on just what a big deal that was.Li became the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam title two weeks ago at Roland Garros. About 116 million people reportedly watched the match in China, but Li said her mother only sent her a text message following the victory over Francesca Schiavone to ask when she would be back home."I said, 'After Wimbledon.' And then she never sent me back again, so . . .," Li said. "I think she knows I won the tournament. I don't know if even she knows how big (the) tournament is. I didn't ask her."Ask anyone on the women's tour, though, and they'll be able to answer just fine."What she's done for her country, China, all the pride that they have to have, a Grand Slam champion from that country, is incredible," said Maria Sharapova, who won her first major title at Wimbledon in 2004.Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, who is still searching for her first major title, said Li's victory was good for tennis."I'm sure that a lot of young girls and boys in China now also want to play tennis because they want to play like Li Na," Wozniacki said. "It's great for tennis that we can have it even bigger as a sport than it is now."Li also reached the final at the Australian Open, losing to Kim Clijsters. But while two straight Grand Slam finals has Li among the favorites at Wimbledon along with Sharapova, Wozniacki and the Williams sisters, she doesn't quite agree."You win the French Open (on clay), doesn't mean . . . you can do well in Wimbledon," said Li, who chatted briefly with Schiavone on Saturday as rain interrupted her practice schedule. "Change of surface. Totally different."So what I say before: French is over."Li has twice made the quarterfinals at the All England Club, including in 2010. In the first round, she will face Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia."I always like to do better than last year," said Li, who could face 2008 Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie of China in the third round.
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