As Asia’s first singles Grand Slam winner, 2011 French Open champion Li is used to breaking barriers in a sport she has pioneered in China. But with the 31-year-old giving herself an advantage of at least 30-0 in the five games she played against Serbia's Djokovic, the light-hearted match never threatened to slip from her grasp — despite the 3-2 scoreline.

China’s Li Na and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic cut a cake before their charity game at the opening ceremony of the China Open yesterday