LK's Top 10 Tennis Moments Of 2011 - #8 Li Na Triumphs In Paris

Determination alone can generate success. A friend once told me a story of a band called Pulp. Many British readers of this thread will know of them. In 1994 they finally broke into the mainstream after 16 years!!!

Li Na for me epitomises determination. Turned pro in 1999 and took a break from the game in 2002. You could draw parallels with Li Na and Roger Federer. Both married their respective partners with whom they met when representing their countries at tennis. She went to university to study for a Bachelors degree in Journalism. She returned to the game in 2004 and that is when the hardwork begun. She begun in the ITF circuit and after the year that saw her notch up 26 consecutive victories, she left and joined the WTA full time in 2005 to which she ended the year ranked 56 in the world. That in itself is a brilliant achievement.

She came to my attention in 2008 when so much was made of her progress and her compatriot's progress too in Zheng Jie.

2011 became her year. At the beginning of the year she defeated Kim Clijsters in straight sets at the Medibank International. Weeks later she made her maiden Grand Slam final and was facing US Open champion Kim Clijsters from who she defeated weeks earlier. A set up and championship point, she crumbled and Clijsters took her first Australian Open title. Li Na like another finalist of that tournament went on to lose in successive matches after that loss. Her poor form continued into the clay season and she even sacked her husband as coach!! What a nightmare year this was turning into. But a change of coach brought a change of fortunes when she made the semi-finals of Madrid and Rome.

Roland Garros was now upon us. Wozniacki was favourite and defending champion Schiavone was making a dogfight of her title defence and was looking un-beatable. After dismantling Azarenka in the Quarter Finals, she was faced with Maria Sharapova who was chasing a Career Grand Slam in the Semi's. She completely played the Russian off the court and set a final up with Schiavone who defeated French hope Bartoli. Li Na made her second Grand Slam final. Up against what seemed like a Gladiator in Schiavone. All the momentum was with her. Despite Li Na's clean hitting and point constructing which was refreshing to see, Schiavone was favourite. Her movement on the baseline almost Henin like. She came out and failed to read the script. I expected a 3 set thriller with a slugging match at 5-5 in the 3rd. Li Na steamed through Schiavone in 2 sets to become China's first Grand Slam Champion.

Truly deserving.

To that brilliant breakthrough (forget about Li Na!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFSdf_VeYG0

That was a good final as it featured 2 out of 3 of the women players that I take an interest in.