Ann Li’s Breakthrough: Inside the Rising Tennis Star’s 2024 Hot Streak

American rising star Ann Li arrives at Roland-Garros 2025 with both momentum and a growing fan base. The 24-year-old powered through her opening match to book a coveted second-round showdown with world No. 3 Jessica Pegula on Thursday, 29 May, with first ball scheduled for approximately 5:00 a.m. ET on Court Simonne-Mathieu. Seeded players often dominate the Paris headlines, yet Li’s clay-court surge has demanded attention. Earlier this spring the American notched her first completed Top-30 victory since 2023 by stunning Leylah Fernandez in Madrid, signaling a full recovery from last season’s abdominal injury setback. Her revamped fitness program—now based in Atlanta after formative years at the USTA campus in Orlando—has translated into heavier topspin, deeper court positioning and an 11-4 record on red clay this year. Why the Pegula clash matters • Career-best opportunity: Li owns one WTA title (Tenerife 2021) and two additional finals but has yet to defeat a top-five opponent in a tour-level main draw. • Ranking stakes: Currently No. 64, she can crack the top 50 again with a victory, regaining the territory she last held in early 2023. • All-American intrigue: Thursday’s encounter guarantees a U.S. representative in the round of 32 and offers a potential springboard for the summer hard-court swing. Road to round two Li opened her Paris campaign with a 6-4, 6-2 dismissal of Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini, striking 23 winners to just 14 unforced errors and winning 79 % of first-serve points. “I’m trusting my legs on clay now,” she said in her on-court interview, crediting extra slide drills added to her Atlanta training block. French crowds rewarded her aggressive baseline play with applause, a reception she described as “electric.” Scouting report vs. Pegula Pegula leads their head-to-head 1-0, but the lone meeting came on hard courts two seasons ago. Li’s team believes her heavier forehand crosscourt can expose the third seed’s backhand on slower clay, provided Li maintains a high first-serve percentage. Expect frequent rallies exceeding ten shots; Li currently averages 7.4 shots per rally on clay compared to Pegula’s 6.1, according to WTA Stats. Off-court profile fueling buzz Beyond her on-court exploits, Li’s social media presence—particularly her playful “@tennischampann” Instagram handle—has helped cultivate a youthful following, amassing 150 k+ followers after a behind-the-scenes vlog from Charleston went viral in April. Sponsors have noticed; a new apparel deal with a sustainable athleisure brand is expected to be announced post-Roland-Garros, sources close to her camp confirm. What’s next Should Li upset Pegula, she would likely face either Italy’s Jasmine Paolini or France’s Diane Parry in the third round—both winnable matches on paper. That path could catapult her into a first-ever Grand Slam second week, firmly establishing her as a breakout American story of the clay-court season. Fans in the U.S. can stream the Pegula-Li clash live on HBO Max and tune into Tennis Channel for extended highlights. For in-stadium spectators, limited tickets remain via RolandGarros.com. Keywords to watch: Ann Li French Open 2025, Ann Li vs Jessica Pegula, American tennis star Ann Li, Ann Li ranking, Ann Li clay-court record.