116M in China watched Li Na's Win

Li Na’s French Open win watched by 116M in China

LONDON (AP)—The WTA says Li Na was watched by 116 million TV viewers in China when she won the country’s first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open.

The 29-year-old Li beat defending champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 (0) on Saturday.

WTA chairman Stacey Allaster says the audience was the biggest for a tennis match in China and is a “fantastic sign for the continued growth potential of women’s tennis in China.”

What about the millions of Italian men who watched Frank Schiavone win last year, and were inspired to try their luck at the women's tour, just like Frank?

I bet Starace, Bolleli and Fognini regret their decision not to follow Frank's path into the WTA. We all know Frank would not have cut it with the other guys at the ATP.

Guys guys guys .... it could be a 116 M or could have been 116K. What does it matter?
The woman has represented her country well and China and Asia is proud of her. Not same as you Americans with your fine athletes. No wonder the American tennis is dead or close to death. Who wants to represent the USA just to be hated in your blogs. Is it not true Serena and Venus?

It's what, a billion or more Chinese, 116 million is not a big deal compared to the billions they have. Give it a break. I'm very happy for Li but you can't make 116 mil sound like a lot (even though it is) when compared to billions of people of the same race.

116 million? That's not even 10% of the population. The potential is there. Way to go Li Na. She is lovely.

Citing figures from state broadcaster CCTV, the WTA says the previous highest Chinese TV audience for a sporting event this year was when 60 million viewers saw Li lose to Belgium’s Kim Clijsters in the Australian Open final in January.