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Li Na is not yet done making history for China on the tennis circuit. In this week's tennis rankings released by the Women's Tennis Assocation Li Na has risen to number four in the world...a dream come true thirteen years after she wished it.
Li Na's dream comes true after 13 years. |
Li Na said, "My biggest dream is to be a top ten player in the world. I know it's hard, but I will try my best."
Li is the newly-crowned first-ever Chinese Grand Slam tournament winner. By winning the French Open last weekend, Li moved up from 7th to 4th place in the rankings. Li Na broke into the WTA Top 100 for the first time in October 2004. She had climbed up to the world top 40 two years later. The Chinese star continued to improve her game and build her points, so by the end of 2009, she was well inside the top 20, thanks to her breakthrough performance in Grand Slam events. Li reached world number 7 early this year after reaching the Australian Open final where she finished runner up. Li is poised to continue her run and elevate her world ranking further, with the year's third major, Wimbledon, just around the corner with the China Open to follow later in the year.
Development of tennis in China has been one of the WTA's core strategic priorities. In 2009 the China Open was upgraded to one of the premier events on the WTA calendar. Li was a semi finalist at last year's event. The 2011 China Open starts on September 25 in Beijing. It'll be Li's first tournament at home since becoming a Grand Slam tournament champion.