China's tennis megastar Li Na carried the weight of a continent as the 6th seed took on defending champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the French Open singles final. She beat Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 to win the first Grand Slam title for China and Asia.

Li Na got off to a solid start, holding her serve, making it 2-all early in the opening set.

The Chinese later broke the Italian in the fifth game, jumping to a 3-2 lead.

Both players then held their serves, as Li took a 5-4 lead.

Schiavone was broken in the 10th game, as the Chinese star pulled away to close out the opening set 6-4.

Li carried her momentum in the second set, where she broke Schiavone in the opening game and went on to take a 2-0 cushion.

Li, who displayed a strong passion for victory, raced to a 3-1 lead.

But the Italian restored some composure and the 7th game was a tight contest. Schiavone stayed cool, and made it 4-3. The Italian then broke Li in the next game, and to tie the set at 4-all.

Li, who carried the hopes of the whole nation, brushed off nerves and held her serve tying the set at 5.

Schiavone uphanded momentarily for a 6-5 lead. But Li Na, continued to persevere, forcing a tiebreak after making it 6-all. In the tiebreak, the Italian lost her nerve as the Chinese was just several points away from the championship crown.

Li jumped to a 5-0 lead, and Schiavone never recovered. The Chinese, behind thunderous cheers from the crowd at Roland Garros, crushed Schiavone 7-0, taking the set and completing her victory in straight sets 6-4, 7-6.

For Li Na, the win takes her to a new level.

Li becomes the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam event, and the first Asian woman to do so.

She is expected to rise to number four in the world when the new rankings are released.

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