China's only Grand Slam winner Li Na was the object of widespread media and online criticism on Friday after a graceless response to her French Open defeat.

Li, who won the tournament in 2011 to seal her place as one of China's sporting stars, crashed out on Thursday to unseeded American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in a rain-interrupted match.

At the post-match media conference the sixth seed reacted tersely when asked if she had an explanation for her fans at home.