Beijing: Top men`s player Novak Djokovic was humbled by women`s number five Li Na in a light-humoured charity match in Beijing Friday, battling both the home crowd favourite and rules that were heavily in her favour.
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.
Li and Djokovic traded shots, as well as well-mannered banter across the nets in the match that was watched by 12,000 spectators at the end of an evening of friendly competition between the pair at Beijing`s Olympic Park.
The exhibition match was organised to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the China Open, where qualifying matches were being played earlier Friday.
The sport`s original inter-gender contest was played 40 years ago between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
AFP
