Chinese state media celebrates 'girl from Hubei's all-conquering maturity'

CHINESE state media proclaimed Li Na's victory in the French Open on Saturday as the stuff of legends and miracles, elevating Asia's first grand slam singles winner to near-mythical status in a country where national glory and athletic feats are closely entwined.

A rare front-page sports story in the Sunday edition of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, said the "China-red" clay court at Roland Garros symbolised a miraculous victory for the country.

"The girl from Hubei, Li Na, at the birthplace of the sport, has opened a new era in tennis for China and all of Asia," it said, headlines effusive in describing Li as "bravely seizing" the French title, and "writing an Asian legend." The official English-language newspaper the China Daily said Li displayed an "all-conquering maturity" in her straight sets victory over holder Italy's Francesca Schiavone, watched by tens of millions of fans in China.

It was a national and personal redemption for the widely adored 29-year-old after she lost in the Australian Open final to Belgian Kim Clijsters in January. By yesterday morning, 4.85 million people were talking about Li on China's Twitter-like microblogging site, Sina's Weibo.

Elsewhere in Asia, the victory was front-page news in Japan and Hong Kong, although tennis has only a small regional following and celebratory sentiment might be dampened by unease at China's rising military might and a series of political strains with its neighbours. In Japan, which Beijing sees as a rival for regional leadership, news media celebrated Li's victory as an Asian first. "First from Asia," said a headline in the Asahi newspaper.

French Open coverage in full

• Sixth French Open title is the sweetest of all for Rafael Nadal

• Rafael Nadal casts off early nerves to clinch victory in thrilling final

• 100m watch Li Na tower over Francesca Schiavone

• Chinese state media celebrates 'girl from Hubei's all-conquering maturity'

• Federer taking heart from performance at Roland Garros

• Andy Murray plays 'wait and see' with injury

As the country's sometimes reluctant standard-bearer for tennis, her success is expected to fuel the sport's rapid growth in China. China Tennis Association chief Sun Jinfang said that Li will help drive the sport forward in China where it is still considered an elitist game that lags behind basketball, football and table tennis in its appeal.

"Li Na's achievement is not only an honour for China and Asia, but will also advance China's global influence on the sport," said Sun.

"It will inevitably be a strong driving force behind the development of tennis in China, increase society's focus on and support of the sport, and attract more young people to play."