PARIS, FRANCE – By winning the French Open title, Li Na is projected to rise to World No. 4 on the WTA rankings (as of Monday, June 6, 2011), setting a national record for China, and equaling the highest-ever ranking by a woman from Asia (previously held by Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm). Not only is this Li Na’s first Grand Slam victory, it is her first ever clay-court title.
“I congratulate Li Na on this historic victory which is credit to her incredible skill, determination and perseverance in winning China’s first Grand Slam,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the WTA. “Her win today will inspire an entire generation of young girls to play tennis and propel the sport to new levels of global popularity and growth.”
Development of tennis in China has been one of the WTA’s core strategic priorities. In 2008, the WTA opened an office in Beijing, designed to serve as a hub for all Asia-Pacific marketing and sales activity, in addition to supporting the grassroots growth of women’s tennis in China. In 2009, the China Open was elevated to one of the four premier events on the WTA calendar, and earlier this year, the WTA signed two new major sponsors: Chinese apparel brand Peak, and Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas Airlines.
The success of Li Na and other Chinese players, such as Zheng Jie – former Australian Open and Wimbledon semifinalist and twice a Grand Slam doubles champion, and Peng Shuai, who is projected to achieve a career-high singles ranking of world No. 20 next week, has significantly contributed to the momentum and growth of the sport in China, in terms of TV viewership and digital space. Li Na’s appearance in the Australian Open final earlier this year was one of China’s most watched sporting events, and was broadcast live on three different networks and online to approximately 60 million viewers. She has become the most popular female athlete in China’s social media space, with close to 1.8 million fans.
Li Na’s victory marks the 4th Grand Slam title for China. The doubles team of Yan Zi and Zheng Jie won the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, while Sun Tian-Tian partnered with Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic to capture the Australian Open mixed doubles crown in 2008.
Great ending to this slam of surprises. I wonder how will the young guns respond to the challenge at next slam. The older ones are not done yet, it seems.