Li Na eyes victory in 2nd major final

Li Na carried the hopes of her continent to become the first Asian player to make the French Open final. In a country where tennis is not that popular, a back-to-back Grand Slam final entry of a Chinese player is enough to boost the country and stun the world. Level-headed and fast on the court, the 29-year-old Hubei native has also become known for her quick wit. Whether she wins the French title or not, the new Chinese sensation has already inspired a generation of fans by ascending to the top of world tennis.

After she missed the chance to make her Grand Slam breakthrough at the start of the year at the Australian Open, Li Na did not wait long for her second, in straight Gland Slam trips.

"This is something important for Chinese tennis. They will be broadcasting the match live on television," Li said after the semifinal victory against Maria Sharapova of Russia.

"I come to the court more confident. You have to believe you can do it."

"I don't know how much I can do for Chinese tennis but I know that if someone makes it to the final the youngsters could say 'maybe I can do it myself'. I hope tennis in China will grow bigger."

Coach: She's Roger Federer in women

Unlike her previous underperformance on clay, Li Na found her feet on this court. She prefers to stay at the baseline, hitting flat shots in near silence. Only as the end neared against Sharapova did Li occasionally pump a fist.

Driving her big forehand near lines, Li finished with 24 winners, double Sharapova's count. It was a performance that prompted Li's coach since April, Michael Mortensen, to describe her Thursday as "kind of Roger Federer of the women; she can do so many things."  Full Story

Sharapova: She's well-deserved

 She certainly played a lot better than I did and a lot more solid, and she played the crucial points better.

Schiavone: The final will be tough

 I think she played an amazing year starting in the Australian Open final and she is a great person. It will be tough but this is tennis, someone has to lose.

June 2, 2011 French Open Finalist
Li Na thrashed top title hopefuls including Sharapova, Azarenka, Kvitova and made history to become Asia’s first French Open finalist.

May 7, 2011 Madrid Open semi-finalist
Li Na reaches her first semifinals after Melbourne with new coach.

May, 2011 Fresh start with new coach
Li appointed Denmark Fed Cup captain Michael Mortensen as her new coach with her longtime coach and husband Jiang Shan retreating to the back-seat role.

April 12, 2011 Retirement rumor
Li Na said she has no intention to hang up her rackets, dispelling rumors that she will retire at the end of the season.

February-April, 2011 Lingering low form
Li Na suffered four straight first-round defeats and have been trying to get rid of the low form bothering her after the Australian Open.

Jan 27, 2011 Australian Open runner-up
Li became the first Chinese players to reach a Gram Slam final, though she was defeated by Kim Clijsters in the finals. 

1st rd: bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3

2nd rd: bt Silvia Soler-Espinosa, Spain, 6-4, 7-5

3rd rd: bt Sorana Cirstea, Romania, 6-2, 6-2

4th rd: bt 9-Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3

QF: bt 4-Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 7-5, 6-2

SF: bt 7-Maria Sharapova, Russia, 6-4, 7-5 

2004

August - Sun Tiantian and Li Ting win China's first Olympic gold medal in the sport in the women's doubles at the Athens Games.

October - Li Na is the first Chinese to win a WTA Tour singles title, in Guangzhou.

2005

January - Zheng Jie wins her first WTA Tour title at Hobart.

2006

January - Zheng Jie and Yan Zi win China's first grand slam title in the women's doubles at the Australian Open.

May - Zheng wins the first all-Chinese final at a WTA event when Li Na withdraws injured from the Estoril final.

June - Li Na becomes the first Chinese player to reach the quarter-finals of grand slam at Wimbledon. Zheng and Yan win a second grand slam doubles title.

2008

June - Zheng, a 133rd-ranked wildcard, beats top seed Ana Ivanovic on her way to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, the first Chinese to reach the last four at a grand slam.

August - Zheng and Yan win bronze in women's doubles at the Beijing Olympics, while Li Na misses out on a medal after defeat to Vera Zvonareva in the bronze medal match.

2010

January - Zheng and Li Na reach the last four at the Australian Open, the first time China has had two players in the last four at a grand slam. Lose to Justine Henin and eventual champion Serena Williams respectively.

- Li Na becomes the first Chinese player to reach the women's top 10 in the world rankings.

2011

January - Li comes back from 5-0 down in the first set to beat Kim Clijsters in the final and win the Sydney International, her first "premier" level WTA title.

- Peng Shuai beats seventh seed Jelena Jankovic on her way to her first grand slam fourth round appearance at Melbourne Park.

- Li beats world number one and top seed Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals of the Australian Open to become the first Chinese to reach a grand slam singles final, losing to Kim Clijsters.

- Li reaches a second consecutive grand slam final at the French Open after beating Maria Sharapova in the last four.