中国网站品牌栏目（频道）
北京时间1月29日下午，备受中国球迷关注的澳网女单决赛在罗德拉沃尔球场打响，赛会第九种子、中国金花李娜迎战赛会第三种子、三度美网冠军克里斯特尔斯。经过124分钟苦战，李娜以1比2（6比3、3比6和3比6）遭对手逆转，无缘问鼎澳网冠军。即便如此，亚军李娜也创造了中国球手在大满贯单打赛事中的历史最佳战绩，她作为中国乃至亚洲首个打进大满贯决赛的选手，仍然创造了历史。在赛后接受采访时，李娜表示自己打得不错，并开玩笑说网球比赛应该只打一局。
2011澳网女单决赛颁奖仪式李娜真情告白
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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)
（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）
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