PARIS - Sixth seed and former champion Li Na of China became the biggest name to fall at the French Open as she was knocked out by Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the second round on Thursday.

Li, China's first Grand Slam singles champion, lost to the 67th-ranked American 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, in a match interrupted by rain three times at court No 1.

The 31-year-old Li, the titlist at Roland Garros in 2011, took an early lead of 4-0 in the first set but Mattek-Sands won the next five games to make it 5-4. Li managed to grab the next two games for the first set but she looked far from a winner in the next two sets.

It was Li's worst results at the French Open since she made her debut in 2006.