CHINA’S French Open champion Li Na reached the second round at Wimbledon on Tuesday (June 21) with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva.
Third seed Li, the first Asian to win a Grand Slam singles title in Paris, next faces either Germany’s Sabine Lisicki or Anastasija Sevastova for a place in the last 32.
“It was tough, she has a huge, big serve and also on grass she was playing more flat,” said Li of her opponent who defeated Maria Sharapova in Wimbledon three years ago.
“So I had to rally every second. I never knew what may happen, which shot she’ll hit next.”
Li shrugged off concerns over a knee injury she picked up in the match.
“It was because it was late so the grass was wet,” said the 29-year-old.
Li said that she will not consider herself the favourite for the title on the back of her famous win in Paris.
“The French Open is different than Wimbledon, different surface. The French Open is also over. So I would like to do like before – come to the next tournament and focus on that tournament.”
Li was joined in the second round by compatriot Peng Shuai.
The 20th seed defeated Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens 6-0, 6-4 and next faces Britain’s Elena Baltacha.
