北京時間1月29日下午，備受中國球迷關注的澳網女單決賽在羅德拉沃爾球場打響，賽會第九種子、中國金花李娜迎戰賽會第三種子、三度美網冠軍克里斯特爾斯。經過124分鐘苦戰，李娜以1比2（6比3、3比6和3比6）遭對手逆轉，無緣問鼎澳網冠軍。即便如此，亞軍李娜也創造了中國球手在大滿貫單打賽事中的歷史最佳戰績，她作為中國乃至亞洲首個打進大滿貫決賽的選手，仍然創造了歷史。在賽后接受采訪時，李娜表示自己打得不錯，并開玩笑說網球比賽應該只打一局。

2011澳網女單決賽頒獎儀式李娜真情告白

Li, who lost to Kim Clijsters of Belgium in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 6-3), is the first player from China to make it to a Grand Slam final.

Chinese tennis player Li Na didn't win the Australian Open championship on Saturday, but she still made the history books.

Li, who lost to Kim Clijsters of Belgium in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 6-3), is the first player from China to make it to a Grand Slam final.

The loss deflated a bit of the feel-good story for China and for Li, who on Thursday defeated No. 1 player Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals in Melbourne. Li is ranked fifth.

In an interview transcribed on the official Australian Open website, Li said she was proud of her effort.

"I think I play great tennis," she said. "I mean, she play better than me. After the match, back to the locker room, I make joke, tennis should only play one set."

Bai Yan, a member of China's mens' national team member and Li Na's friend, said the loss was disappointing, but still a bright starting point.

"To tell you the truth I feel a little bit down, all of us. But you know she is still the best, she's still our hero in everybody's eyes," said Bai. "This is just the start."

Win or lose, Li's appearance in the Australian Open finals was seen as a major victory for tennis in China, where badminton and table tennis dominate.

Fans across China gathered to watch the match. Li's mother joined fans at a restaurant in her hometown of Wuhan. In Beijing, fans crowded together to watch alongside members of China's national tennis team.

"Tennis is still relatively a new sport in China," said Michael Chang, the Chinese-American who was the first Asian grand slam champion, in an interview with CNN. "To be able to see Li Na have as much success as she has ... this could be the start of something very special for tennis in China."

"Li will definitely change the sport of tennis in China and that is a great thing," Chang said.

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）