Perhaps it was the pressure of those watching at home, perhaps it was simply the occasion, but as she faltered, Schiavone moved to within two points of forcing it into a decider.

Li, cool and calm as she won point after point in the second-set tiebreaker, fell onto her back when Schiavone's last shot landed long.

When Schiavone's final shot went long, li na fell to the clay with her arms extended and looked up at her player's box, where her husband, whom she fired as coach earlier this year, applauded.