She became Asia’s first Grand Slam champion in 2011 and helped ‘tennis explode’ in her country

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Several big names on the WTA Tour represent Asia at the highest level, winning Major titles.

Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina have proved their talents over recent years winning a combined five Grand Slam titles.

The former has won four Majors as a professional, two at the Australian Open and two at the US Open, as she proved her hard-court prowess against the very best in women’s tennis.

Japan’s Osaka became just the second Asian player to win a Slam when she took home the title in New York seven years ago.

World number six Rybakina became the first Kazakh player to win a Major when she lifted the trophy at Wimbledon in 2022, beating Ons Jabeur in the final.

The pair followed in the footsteps of one Asian star who became the first from her continent to win a Grand Slam title, 14 years ago.

Li Na: The first Asian player to win a Grand Slam title

Li Na was a true trailblazer during her time in the sport, breaking new ground for both Chinese and Asian tennis.

Unsuccessful in her first appearance at a Major final at the Australian Open in 2011, Na came up just short against Kim Clijsters, losing in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6.

Traveling to Paris for the French Open just a few months later, she was determined to come out victorious on the clay.

Entering the event as the number six seed, Na wasn’t considered one of the favorites, having never before reached the quarter-finals in her four previous visits to the French capital.

It didn’t take long for fans to take note, however, as the Chinese star knocked out three top ten seeds on her way to the final.

Na came face-to-face with the defending champion Francesca Schiavone in the final, as she searched for a maiden Major crown.

Just as she did in Melbourne earlier that same year, Na took the first set without too much trouble, as she led 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The second wasn’t quite so easy, as Schiavone pushed her to a tiebreaker, playing the style of tennis that saw her pick up the title in 2010.

It was China’s Na who prevailed, winning the tiebreaker without dropping a point, as she became the first-ever Asian born player to win a Grand Slam title.

Her win changed tennis in Asia and China forever, as Chris Evert explained to Times Magazine in 2013.

“Tennis has exploded in China,” said Evert.

“The country now has some 15 million tennis players; 116 million people watched Li win the French Open.

“That kind of exposure is crucial to our sport, and it never would have happened without Li.

“Like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova before her, Li Na has transcended her sport.”

One Major title wasn’t enough for Na, as she was keen to get her hands on the Australian Open trophy, after losing in the 2011 final.

She suffered another final defeat in 2013 at the hands of Victoria Azarenka before returning with a vengeance in 2014.

Dropping just one set on her way to the final, Na took to the court against Slovakian 20th seed, Dominika Cibulkova as the heavy favorite.

Edging a tight first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 [7-3], the Chinese star looked set to take home her second Grand Slam title.

Dominating the second 6-0 she did just that, as Na lifted the trophy high on Rod Laver Arena, winning the Australian Open title at the third time of asking.

Na retired from tennis later that year and remains China’s greatest-ever tennis player, winning two Major titles, reaching a career-high of number two in the world.

Li Na inspired Qinwen Zheng to Olympic Gold in 2024

The two-time Major champion may not be China’s greatest player for long as top-ten star Qinwen Zheng continues to impress.

Reaching the final of the Australian Open in 2024, she followed in the footsteps of her idol, before breaking new ground at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Ahead of the tournament, Zheng paid tribute to her countrywoman who she called one of her biggest ‘inspirations.’

“[Li Na] is one of the women who inspired me the most,” she said.

“I always said she put those dream seeds inside me, the day when Li Na won a Slam, I had a dream in my heart that I want to win a Grand Slam as well.

“This time, I’m fighting for my country, it’s the same importance, even more.”

The young Chinese star fought incredibly in Paris, producing one of the shocks of the year in the semi-finals as Zheng beat Iga Swiatek, condemning the Pole to her first defeat at Roland Garros in three years.

With history on the line, Zheng beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic in straight sets, as she became the first Chinese tennis player to win a singles Gold Medal at the Olympics.

It remains to be seen if Zheng can follow in Na’s footsteps and win a first French Open title later this year, but it’ll definitely be worth a watch when the Chinese star returns to Paris in May.