Li Na defeated defending championFrancesca Schiavone in the final, 6–4, 7–6(7–0) to win the women's singles tennis title at the2011 French Open. It was her firstmajor title, and she was the first Asian and Chinese player to win a singles major.[1] Li was the first player to defeat four top-10 opponents en route to theFrench Open title. The final was also a rematch of the pair's third-round match from the previous year.
Caroline Wozniacki andKim Clijsters were in contention for theworld No. 1 ranking; Wozniacki retained the top ranking after Clijsters lost in the second round, despite herself losing in the third round.[2] This was the first time in theOpen Era that neither of the top two seeds of a major progressed past the third round.[3]