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.''
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.