Chinese wheelchair tennis stars Li Xiaohui and Wang Ziying narrowly missed their second Grand Slam title of 2024, falling 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 to Japan's Yui Kamiji and South Africa's Kgothatso Montjane in a thrilling French Open women's doubles final on Friday. The match at Roland Garros showcased fierce rallies and shifting momentum, with the Chinese pair initially dominating before their opponents staged a comeback.
Li and Wang, who made history in January as China's first wheelchair Grand Slam champions at the Australian Open, demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the tournament. Their Paris campaign began strongly with a 6-4 first-set victory, but unforced errors in critical moments allowed the experienced Kamiji-Montjane duo to force a decisive tiebreaker.
"This loss teaches us where to improve," Wang told reporters post-match. "We've proven we belong at this level – now we need to convert opportunities." Li added: "Every match here strengthens our partnership. We'll analyze this carefully and come back stronger."
The Chinese athletes' performance underscores Asia's growing influence in adaptive sports. Li also competed in singles, pushing Kamiji to three sets in their semifinal clash before the Japanese player advanced to face Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands.
