PARIS — Which woman had the weight of China on her shoulders? It was easy to get confused on Saturday with Francesca Schiavone more on edge and off target than Li Na for much of the French Open final.

But Li, not Schiavone, was the long-aspiring veteran trying to become the first player from her country to win a Grand Slam singles title. And though that prospect could have been too much to bear, Li handled the occasion — a few shouts and dark looks excepted — with remarkable and unexpected poise.

After losing her first Grand Slam final at this year’s Australian Open, Li drew on that experience and kept her temper and baseline power under control. In the end, the only thing she lost complete command of was her balance.

After Schiavone’s final backhand landed long, Li fell to the clay on her back, dropped her racket and covered her eyes with her hands. “Dream come true,” Li said of her 6-4, 7-6 (0) victory. “In China, never have champion for the Grand Slam, so that’s why in China, so many players working so hard.”