Despite a nightmarish 6-4, 6-0 first-round defeat at her home-country China Open to 58th-ranked Romanian Monica Niculescu, a loss that clearly shook the world No. 5 to the point where she admitted she has “lost all confidence,” Li Na became the fifth singles player to qualify for the year-end WTA Championships, coming to the Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 25-30.
Since her triumphant run at Roland Garros, where she became the first Asian woman to win a Slam title, the 29-year-old has managed just five victories and suffered a first-round defeat at the U.S. Open. However, Li has earned the right to join No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, three-time Slam champ Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova and No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, all of whom have already secured a trip to Istanbul.
The WTA’s year-end finale, to be held in Istanbul through 2013, will feature the world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams competing for the coveted title and a share of the $5 million in prize money.
“This year has been the most successful of my career so far,” said Li. “I’m proud to be the first Chinese woman to qualify in singles for this event.”
A true trailblazer for tennis in China, Li defeated four top-10 players en route to the French Open title. According to CCTV, Li’s victory over Italy’s Francesca Schiavone in the RG final was watched by a record-breaking 116 million viewers. Li also won the Sydney title, and reached the Aussie Open final, losing in three sets to Kim Clijsters. The 29-year-old also equaled the highest world ranking ever held by an Asian woman at World No. 4.
