Li Na won the 2011 French Open women’s singles title, becoming the first Asian singles player to win a Grand Slam major.
In the final, Li defeated defending champion Francesca Schiavone 6–4, 7–6 (7–0). The victory was Li’s first major title and made her the first player from China—and the first player from Asia—to win a singles major in tennis.
Li had already reached the Australian Open final earlier in 2011, losing to Kim Clijsters. Her French Open triumph therefore marked a breakthrough rather than a one-off deep run. She was also the first player to defeat four top-10 opponents on the way to a French Open championship.
Naomi Osaka later became another Asian major champion, but she won her first Grand Slam at the 2018 US Open. Peng Shuai and Zheng Jie were accomplished Chinese players, yet neither won a major singles title. Li’s 2011 victory remains a landmark in Chinese and Asian tennis history.