https://www.scmp.com/rss/290984/feed Won the 2011 French Open women's singles tennis title, becoming the first player from China to win a grand slam in singles. She also reached the final of the 2011 Australian Open. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open has been handed the tournament of the year award at WTA 250 level, at the Women’s Tennis Association’s Tournament of the Year Awards on Friday. The ‘M’ Mark event, which was held at Victoria Park from October 26 to November 3, claimed the annual award ahead of 22 other WTA International Series events held around the world in its category. It was also the second time the event has won the award, after first winning it in 2018. “This award is the best... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3290744/prudential-hong-kong-tennis-open-wins-tournament-year-award-wta-250-category?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3290744/prudential-hong-kong-tennis-open-wins-tournament-year-award-wta-250-category?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:00:09 +0000 Li Na has suggested that players at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open last week were fatigued and could reach greater heights if they are better at selecting their competitions. Speaking to the media hours before Zheng Qinwen became the first Chinese player to make it out of the group stage of the WTA Finals since Li in 2013, the retired two-time grand slam winner declined to offer her any tips for the tournament. On Wednesday, world No 7 Zheng beat Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-1 in Riyadh, and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3285557/players-hong-kong-open-looked-tired-should-manage-their-schedules-better-says-li-na?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3285557/players-hong-kong-open-looked-tired-should-manage-their-schedules-better-says-li-na?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Nov 2024 10:00:16 +0000 China’s historic tennis success at the Paris Olympics was not a flash in the pan, but a reflection of the country’s ability to continue producing players that make it into the top 100 in the world, said Li Na, the only mainland athlete to have won a grand slam title. Li, who was announced on Wednesday as the tournament director for October’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, said the progress made by China’s male players in particular shows that the sport’s atmosphere in China is “very... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3278098/chinas-recent-tennis-success-not-fluke-reflection-genuine-progress-says-li-na?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3278098/chinas-recent-tennis-success-not-fluke-reflection-genuine-progress-says-li-na?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:30:09 +0000 Every four years around this time, when the world’s focus turns intently to the thrill of victory at the Summer Games, an old debate returns to the fore in China over the roles of the market and the government in sports. And last weekend, when 21-year-old Zheng Qinwen served up China’s first-ever gold in singles tennis at the Paris Olympics, the din reached a new zenith. The first Asian tennis player to win such an honour, Zheng’s path to success deviated from that of nearly every other Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3274180/olympics-spurs-debate-can-china-be-sports-powerhouse-letting-market-hone-athletes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3274180/olympics-spurs-debate-can-china-be-sports-powerhouse-letting-market-hone-athletes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:00:13 +0000 A sport that demands endless refinements of technical excellence, as competitors push themselves to the limit to exploit split-second advantages in the pursuit of perfection: you can see exactly what Rolex appreciates about the high performance world of professional tennis. In fact, the world’s most famous Swiss luxury watch brand has long been a dedicated partner and supporter of the world’s most stylish sport, an association that began when Rolex first sponsored Britain’s Wimbledon... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3235938/style-edit-rolex-shanghai-masters-back-asias-only-atp-masters-tournament-returns-after-4-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3235938/style-edit-rolex-shanghai-masters-back-asias-only-atp-masters-tournament-returns-after-4-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Sep 2023 02:00:13 +0000 Zheng Qinwen and Yuan Yue joined compatriots Wang Xiyu and Zhang Shuai in the third round of the US Open on Thursday – the first time in history four women from China have reached the last 32 of a single grand slam event. Rising star Zheng held her nerve to defeat Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in straight sets, winning 7-6, 7-6 to set up a third round clash with Germany’s Jule Niemeier. Qualifier Yuan meanwhile matched Zheng’s achievement with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 defeat of Romania’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3191059/us-open-chinas-women-reach-new-heights-new-york-fab-4-through-last-32?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3191059/us-open-chinas-women-reach-new-heights-new-york-fab-4-through-last-32?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Sep 2022 01:31:01 +0000 Chinese tennis superstar Li Na has thanked her husband for “giving up on his dream” to support her on her glittering career. “He accompanied me to play games all over the world, and then gave up his dream for my dream,” Li said. “That is a place that I am very grateful and touched by.” Li, 39, and her husband of 16 years Jiang Shan were interviewed by one another on a programme called “Above the Peak POWER PAIRS” on Hunan-based satellite television broadcaster Mango TV. The pair met at tennis... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3153438/li-na-thanks-husband-giving-dream-jiang-shan-regrets-she-was-never-no-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3153438/li-na-thanks-husband-giving-dream-jiang-shan-regrets-she-was-never-no-1?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Oct 2021 08:00:47 +0000 China No 1 Zhang Shuai’s victory at the 2021 US Open secured a “golden slam” of sorts for Chinese players as it marked the final major where there was a Chinese winner. The golden slam is traditionally seen as winning all four majors – Wimbledon and the Australian, French and US Open – plus the Olympic gold medal all in the same calendar year. That was achieved by Germany superstar Steffi Graf back in 1988 and it has proven notoriously difficult to replicate ever since, even for the those at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3148838/zhang-shuais-us-open-doubles-win-completes-chinese-golden-slam-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3148838/zhang-shuais-us-open-doubles-win-completes-chinese-golden-slam-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Sep 2021 08:48:51 +0000 Teen tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has lit up Wimbledon and the front pages of the British press with her performances at The All-England Club in the last week – but the Briton is striking up interest around the world and is tipped to become a star off the court. The 18-year-old is into the fourth round, where she faces Australia’s world No 75 Ajla Tomljanovic. Teenaged phenoms Emma Raducanu and Leyla Fernandez turn the world on its ear as their lives get set to change dramatically Raducanu,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3139848/emma-raducanu-who-britains-chinese-romanian-teen-tennis-star?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3139848/emma-raducanu-who-britains-chinese-romanian-teen-tennis-star?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jul 2021 07:14:07 +0000 Chinese hopes at this year’s French Open took another huge hit on Friday night in Paris as almost all of the country’s doubles players saw their tournaments end in the second round. That had been the case in the women’s singles earlier in the week – with China’s No 1 Wang Qiang and Zheng Saisai making it to the second round before bowing out. On Friday night in Paris four of the five Chinese women’s doubles players were beaten as was the only Chinese woman in the mixed doubles. Eighth seeds... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3136162/chinas-french-open-hopes-take-hit-doubles-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3136162/chinas-french-open-hopes-take-hit-doubles-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jun 2021 03:00:03 +0000 Is it fair to say that Chinese sport is stagnating? It sure feels that way. This week saw the release of the nominations for the Laureus World Sports Awards and there were two Asians among the 30 athlete and team nominees. Elsewhere on a list dominated by Europe and the US, there are only two Africans – Kenyan runners Joshua Cheptegei and Brigid Kosgei – with the Argentina men’s rugby team the sole South American representation. Both of Asia’s nominees, Naomi Osaka and Kento Momota, are... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3123479/no-new-yao-ming-or-li-na-sees-beijing-2022-host-china-still-punching?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3123479/no-new-yao-ming-or-li-na-sees-beijing-2022-host-china-still-punching?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:18 +0000 Former tennis star Li Na found herself trending on social media after reports said she had given up her Chinese nationality. The two-time grand slam winner was said to be the Li Na who had applied to change their nationality in Busan, South Korea, with the topic of “Li Na’s resignation of Chinese nationality” blowing up on Weibo. An image of a consular certificate showing Li Na applying to change her nationality to South Korean, dated December 24, was uploaded to Weibo on Monday. Reports that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3116443/li-na-chinese-consulate-slams-fake-news-tennis-star-has-changed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3116443/li-na-chinese-consulate-slams-fake-news-tennis-star-has-changed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Jan 2021 03:24:42 +0000 The anti-doping regime in sport is demanding. Athletes must cooperate with random testing during and outside competition. There are few if any excuses for banned substances in the blood or urine or for refusing or aborting tests. The consequences are punitive suspensions from competition that can be career-ending and financially devastating. The reputational taint is lasting. In the case of China’s swimming superstar and Olympic champion Sun Yang, an eight-year ban by the Court of Arbitration... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3115716/test-fair-play-sporting-arena?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3115716/test-fair-play-sporting-arena?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Dec 2020 13:30:15 +0000 China’s Zhang Shuai moved into the round of 16 in the women’s singles at the French Open with victory over Clara Burel, the first time she has gone past the third round at Roland Garros. The 31-year-old has reached the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open in the past but never been further than the third round in nine Paris attempts, in her sole previous third round appearance she lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2017. Zhang became the first Chinese player to go this deep since... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3104086/french-open-chinas-zhang-shuai-soars-career-best-round-16-roland-garros?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3104086/french-open-chinas-zhang-shuai-soars-career-best-round-16-roland-garros?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2020 03:48:16 +0000 “I was, like, ‘Please, double-fault. That way I can win the match,’” Li Na said after the semi-final of the 2011 French Open. Her opponent Maria Sharapova did just that and 29-year-old Li was into the final in Paris where she would face the holder Francesca Schiavone. It was indicative of the honesty that Li exhibited on and off court. She always spoke out and did her things her way, possibly a nod to Wuhan’s punk sensibility – her hometown is the capital of China’s punk music scene. Li had been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3087541/li-nas-french-open-win-opened-door-chinese-and-asian-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3087541/li-nas-french-open-win-opened-door-chinese-and-asian-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2020 07:35:46 +0000 Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka has set a record for 12-month earnings by a female athlete according to a report from forbes.com ahead of their annual sporting rich list. Osaka earned US$37.4 million across the year, out-earning 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams by US$1.4 million and eclipsing fellow tennis star Maria Sharapova’s previous record of US$29.7 million set in 2015. However, top-earning woman Osaka is only 29th on the 100 highest paid athlete list, which will be announced... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3085834/naomi-osaka-tops-forbes-rich-list-female-athletes-us374-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3085834/naomi-osaka-tops-forbes-rich-list-female-athletes-us374-million?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2020 07:40:23 +0000 Swimmer Sun Yang is China’s most highly recognised sports superstar since American NBA basketball player Yao Ming and women’s grand slam tennis champion Li Na. The triple Olympic champion is also one of the most popular with compatriots. His army of social media fans is testament to that. Sadly what also sets him apart is international out-of-competition controversy that casts a cloud over his achievements in the pool and his standing abroad. It has climaxed with the Court of Arbitration in... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3064670/sun-yang-must-learn-image-matters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3064670/sun-yang-must-learn-image-matters?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2020 14:01:34 +0000 Like everyone in Wuhan and beyond, life will never be the same for former rowing world champion Pei Jiayun, who has lost her husband, Liu Weidong, also a rower, to the coronavirus. When the epidemic hit Wuhan, the retired rower and her family were exposed to the virus. On February 1, Pei, Liu and Liu’s mother went to hospital for a nucleic acid test after some coughing and fever but two days later Liu died at home before the test results were known. While Pei, 49, was still mourning the sudden... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3051502/former-chinese-rowing-world-champion-pei-jiayun-loses-her-husband?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3051502/former-chinese-rowing-world-champion-pei-jiayun-loses-her-husband?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2020 01:31:37 +0000 The Chinese sports world has rallied around those fighting the coronavirus outbreak in the country, with many stars from Wuhan leading the way. Wuhan natives such as Li Na, who donated 3 million yuan (US$430,000), and boxing champion Xu Can have been followed by others with no connection to the city at the epicentre of the deadly virus. Chinese sports media outlet PP Sports, which has a running total of the financial donation of athletes and teams, had the total at more than 17 million yuan... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3049735/david-beckham-sun-yang-and-jeremy-lin-among-stars-supporting-wuhan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3049735/david-beckham-sun-yang-and-jeremy-lin-among-stars-supporting-wuhan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:00:19 +0000 Retired Chinese tennis star Li Na, from Wuhan, has been praised by mainland fans for donating 3 million yuan (US$430,000) to the fight the novel coronavirus epidemic, topping the list of contributions from individual athletes. Reports in the mainland said Li, the first Asian player to win a singles grand slam title at the 2011 French Open, made the donation through a charity foundation in Beijing. Li, who also won the 2014 Australian Open title, is an ambassador of the foundation which will use... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3049465/coronavirus-retired-tennis-star-li-na-donates-3-million-yuan-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3049465/coronavirus-retired-tennis-star-li-na-donates-3-million-yuan-support?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Feb 2020 04:52:41 +0000 It has been six years since China’s Li Na won the Australian Open. Her win came against the odds in a time when Serena Williams was dominating the women’s game, helpfully backed up by Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova. Since Williams’ last win at a grand slam event at Melbourne Park in 2017 there have been 11 major finals won by nine different women. Only Simona Halep (2018 French Open and last year’s Wimbledon) and Naomi Osaka (2018 US Open and in Melbourne last year) have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3048334/wang-qiangs-australian-open-run-shows-chinese-tennis-need-new-star?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3048334/wang-qiangs-australian-open-run-shows-chinese-tennis-need-new-star?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jan 2020 03:30:13 +0000 You can take the girl out of the game but you can’t take the game out of the girl. Even though it’s been five years since mainland Chinese star Li Na retired from the world of competitive tennis, the sport is still very much at the forefront of her mind. The 37-year-old is almost unrecognisable as she walks into the Rolex Lounge at the 2019 Rolex Shanghai Masters in the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena. Wielding a shy smile rather than a tennis racket, the slender figure in a brown trouser suit... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3041584/li-na-asias-first-grand-slam-winner-talks-motherhood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3041584/li-na-asias-first-grand-slam-winner-talks-motherhood?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 02:00:13 +0000 Chinese tennis star Zhang Shuai has said that she is having an “amazing week” after making it through to her first Wimbledon quarter-final. The 30-year-old had never won a match at the All-England Club before this year. Her reward for beating Ukraine teenager Dayana Yastremska is a meeting with Simona Halep. Millions will be tuning in back home to see if Zhang can beat the former world No 1. Zhang Shuai at Wimbledon before 2019: 0-5 Zhang Shuai at Wimbledon in 2019: 4-0... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3017831/wimbledon-2019-simona-halep-seeks-revenge-zhang-shuai-aims-better-li?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3017831/wimbledon-2019-simona-halep-seeks-revenge-zhang-shuai-aims-better-li?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2019 06:03:15 +0000 When China take Italy next week in the Women’s World Cup, all eyes will be on Wang Shuang. The team’s sole world class footballer, has not delivered in France yet. She did not even start the first game, despite Germany’s coaching staff identifying her as the danger. Wang scored seven goals and eight assists in 18 games since moving to Paris Saint-Germain but is yet to register a shot at this World Cup. Coach Jia Xiuquan thinks it might be because of the pressure of being China’s star. “She... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3015503/chinas-country-above-all-attitude-comes-cost-stars-wang-shuang-and-zhu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3015503/chinas-country-above-all-attitude-comes-cost-stars-wang-shuang-and-zhu?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jun 2019 00:00:15 +0000 While Serena Williams was playing for a spot in the semi-finals at Wimbledon, another 36-year-old mother, Li Na, was content to relive old times a few courts away with other legends. The most successful Asian ever was playing a friendly match on court 2 in a legends event with other retirees such as Ai Sugiyama and Tracy Austin. Li said she did not regret her decision to retire in 2014, months after winning the Australian Open. While Williams has continued to dominate the tour, Li has focused on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/2154776/serena-williams-v-li-na-tale-two-mothers-one-focuses-winning-wimbledon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/2154776/serena-williams-v-li-na-tale-two-mothers-one-focuses-winning-wimbledon?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jul 2018 05:30:59 +0000 Li Na said she is sorry Chinese tennis has not moved on more since her retirement, as the country’s fruitless search for a new champion continues. Li’s two grand slam titles set the bar extremely high for her fellow Chinese, who have laboured in vain to match her trailblazing achievements. The contrast was laid bare at last week’s Wuhan Open, where Li received a rock-star welcome during a brief appearance, but none of the Chinese players went beyond the third round. Following her rapturous... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2113630/chinese-tennis-needs-grow-says-li-na-search-new-champion-goes-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2113630/chinese-tennis-needs-grow-says-li-na-search-new-champion-goes-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Oct 2017 03:37:16 +0000 China tennis ace Li Na is the world’s highest-earning retired women’s sports star, according to a Forbes magazine study. The 34-year-old, who retired two years ago but remains an iconic endorsement figure in her homeland, was 14th overall having earned US$14 million last year. She won the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open titles. NBA legend Michael Jordan and English football superstar David Beckham are the world’s richest retired sports stars. Jordan, a six-time NBA champion in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1932767/rich-and-rested-chinas-li-na-tops-list-highest-earning-retired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1932767/rich-and-rested-chinas-li-na-tops-list-highest-earning-retired?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Apr 2016 02:30:30 +0000 Tennis trailblazer Li Na said China’s up-and-coming players needed to be allowed to have fun and express themselves, warning it will take time before the country has another major winner. Li, speaking in her home city of Wuhan, said it was her “dream” to help develop the next generation, which is already blossoming with 12 Chinese players in the top 200. But she remains rueful about her struggles with China’s state sports system and a sceptical media, and said it was still too early for the new... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1862627/chinese-tennis-players-need-be-allowed-have-fun-outside-state-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1862627/chinese-tennis-players-need-be-allowed-have-fun-outside-state-run?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2015 03:15:30 +0000 China’s two-time grand slam winner Li Na opened a new 15,000-seat stadium at the Wuhan Open in central China on Sunday to huge cheers from her hometown fans. The new stadium has been built on the back of Li’s career success – she was the first Asian to win a grand slam singles – that saw the popularity of tennis surge in China. Huge applause echoed through the stadium as Li, now retired, stepped onto the court wearing a red dress and was joined by the tournament’s defending champion Petra... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1861892/chinas-retired-tennis-star-li-na-makes-rare-public-appearance-wuhan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1861892/chinas-retired-tennis-star-li-na-makes-rare-public-appearance-wuhan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2015 14:17:30 +0000 Retired Chinese tennis star Li Na announced on Wednesday that she and her husband have a newborn daughter. “Jiang Shan and I would like to introduce our Alisa to my lovely ‘Na fans’,” the 33-year-old wrote on Sina Weibo. “We are happy and we love her very much,” she said, though did not specify when she was born. A picture of a red baby footprint was attached under the message. Jiang Shan and I would like to introduce our Alisa to my lovely ‘Na fans’ Li Na The announcement attracted more than... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1815649/chinas-former-tennis-queen-li-na-becomes-mother?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1815649/chinas-former-tennis-queen-li-na-becomes-mother?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2015 04:32:03 +0000 Recently retired Chinese tennis star Li Na will enjoy home-court advantage as she vies for sportswoman of the year when the premier Laureus World Sports Awards take place in China for the first time in April. Li Na will go up against another tennis legend, Serena Williams, in a six-woman field, organisers said yesterday. The holding of the awards ceremony in the commercial hub of Shanghai comes as Beijing bids for the 2022 Winter Olympics, amid rumours that China could even seek to host the 2026... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1710312/li-na-seeks-top-accolade-shanghai-hosts-laureus-world-sports-awards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1710312/li-na-seeks-top-accolade-shanghai-hosts-laureus-world-sports-awards?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:27:17 +0000 In what she describes as her "new life", China's Li Na is dealing with morning sickness, hoping for a baby girl and dreaming of becoming a housewife. The two-time grand slam champion says she will try not to tell her future child that she was once one of the world's best tennis players. Not that she regrets a moment of her career. If she could go back, Li wouldn't change a thing. Her life and career until now, she said, have been "perfect". It was a very tough decision for me to make, to say... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1683624/chinas-li-na-ready-new-life-baby-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1683624/chinas-li-na-ready-new-life-baby-way?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:57:01 +0000 World number two Li Na has used World Tennis Day to declare she has set her sights not only adding to her grand slam collection, but to become the number one player in the world. “I’d like to take them both,” said the world number two. “But now I am at the highest ranking of my career and of course I want to be number one. that is the goal of all athletes.” Fresh from victory in the first grand slam of the year, the Australian Open, and from achieving a career high in world rankings, Li is in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1439224/li-na-determined-become-world-no1-and-bag-more-majors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1439224/li-na-determined-become-world-no1-and-bag-more-majors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Mar 2014 04:54:14 +0000 Top-seeded Li Na’s Australian Open triumph last  month was followed by a stunning tumble when she lost to a qualifier in the  third round of the Qatar Open on Thursday. The celebrated Chinese player was beaten 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 6-4 by Petra  Cetkowska, a Czech ranked outside the top 100, in a topsy-turvy contest in Li’s  first tournament since her Grand Slam triumph in Melbourne. She seemed to have turned the match around when she came from behind to  lead 3-1 in the final set, but then appeared... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1427641/li-na-tumbles-out-qatar-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1427641/li-na-tumbles-out-qatar-open?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:14:42 +0000 Australian Open champion Li Na is being wooed to headline Hong Kong's return to the world of professional tennis in September - in the WTA Championship at Victoria Park. "We have approached her and made her an offer," said tournament director Stephen Duckitt of China's world number three. "I spoke to her agent in the first week of the Australian Open in Melbourne and said Hong Kong was keen to have her at our tournament. We hope she will agree but if that doesn't happen, it is not the end of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1424655/wta-event-organisers-hope-bring-li-na-hk-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1424655/wta-event-organisers-hope-bring-li-na-hk-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Feb 2014 13:30:00 +0000 The victory of Li Na in the Australian Open not only focused the attention of the media and bloggers on the glamour of the tennis star, but has also sparked a debate over whether the system for training the nation's athletes is in need of an overhaul. The media was abuzz with Li's success. Constant updates were given of her match in Melbourne, while many mainlanders watched the final broadcast live. As soon as Li had secured victory in straight sets, congratulatory messages poured on to Sina... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1418674/li-nas-win-australia-triggers-debate-over-athletes-training?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1418674/li-nas-win-australia-triggers-debate-over-athletes-training?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Feb 2014 19:06:11 +0000 Li Na is destined for more grand slams and a place in the Hall of Fame after the Australian Open win cemented her position as the most influential female player of the last decade, says former great Chris Evert. Li's final victory over Slovak Dominika Cibulkova on Saturday gave her a second major following her 2011 French Open title, a triumph that made her Asia's first singles grand slam champion. Evert, the winner of 18 grand slam titles, joined WTA Tour chief Stacey Allaster in hailing the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1416045/li-na-most-influential-player-decade-says-former-great-chris-evert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1416045/li-na-most-influential-player-decade-says-former-great-chris-evert?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:50:19 +0000 Sporting greatness is about more than winning trophies. Li Na claimed only her second tennis grand slam crown at the Australian Open at the weekend, but she is already one of the sport's most loved figures. Her sportsmanship, humour, determination and maverick ways make her an icon and inspiration to legions of players and fans. But perhaps her greatest achievement is helping bridge the divide between China and the West. Li's string of firsts has been the driving force behind an explosion of... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1415288/tennis-ace-li-na-great-ambassador-china-and-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1415288/tennis-ace-li-na-great-ambassador-china-and-court?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jan 2014 20:12:10 +0000 World number two Rafael Nadal said yesterday he felt no extra pressure heading into a semi-final at the China Open which could see him return to the top of the men's rankings. However, in the women's tournament, it was heartbreak for Chinese star Li Na, who was dumped out in her quarter-final 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 by Petra Kvitova. Nadal, the number two seed in Beijing, staged an extraordinary comeback against Fabio Fognini in his quarter-final to keep alive his hopes of unseating Novak Djokovic at the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1324654/rafael-nadal-calm-ahead-crunch-match-li-na-bows-out-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1324654/rafael-nadal-calm-ahead-crunch-match-li-na-bows-out-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Women's Tennis Association chief Stacey Allaster hailed Li Na's rise as a key factor behind the growth of women's tennis in Asia as the next generation of Chinese players follow in the grand slam winner's footsteps. Li's 2011 French Open victory made her the first Asian to win a grand slam singles title and spiked interest in China, a country always a prioritised growth market for sports bodies. Zhang Shuai became the fifth Chinese woman to win a WTA title at the Guangzhou Open on Saturday. "The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1316982/li-na-hailed-driving-force-womens-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1316982/li-na-hailed-driving-force-womens-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Sep 2013 16:00:00 +0000 A disappointed Li Na admitted to an attack of stage fright in her humbling US Open semi-final loss to Serena Williams and said she would have lost to any opponent she faced. The first Chinese to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows, a shell-shocked Li crumbled to a 6-0, 6-3 loss in 87 minutes. The 31-year-old has long been accustomed to the glare of the grand slam spotlight, winning a French Open two years ago and reaching her second Australian Open final this year, but was already... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1305479/i-am-my-own-worst-enemy-admits-li-na-after-semi-final-loss-serena?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1305479/i-am-my-own-worst-enemy-admits-li-na-after-semi-final-loss-serena?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Sep 2013 01:50:41 +0000 Li Na carved out another bit of grand slam history for China, then joked she would grab a bag of chips and enjoy watching Serena Williams take on Carla Suarez Navarro. That, though, is unlikely to have been pleasant viewing. After Li became the first Chinese player to reach the semi-finals at the US Open with a laboured 2½-hour win over 24th seed Ekaterina Makarova, she watched the seemingly unstoppable Williams crush her Spanish opponent 6-0, 6-0, the first "double bagel" in a quarter-final at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1303418/li-na-step-closer-grand-slam-toughest-game-yet-come?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1303418/li-na-step-closer-grand-slam-toughest-game-yet-come?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Sep 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Li Na made a triumphant night-time debut at the US Open with an impressive rout of former world No 1 Jelena Jankovic to reach the quarter-finals and match her best New York result. But Li said she would rather be playing in the day time. The Chinese fifth seed and 2011 French Open champion, needed only 57 minutes to defeat Serbian ninth seed Jankovic 6-3, 6-0 and book a last-eight date against Russian 24th seed Ekaterina Makarova, a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska. And... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1302053/li-na-quarter-finals-us-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1302053/li-na-quarter-finals-us-open?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Sep 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Defending champion Serena Williams won her much-anticipated US Open showdown with Sloane Stephens, while Li Na avenged a painful loss in Rome to join the world number one in the last eight. Williams defeated 15th seed American Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals, winning eight of the last nine game in avenging a loss that ousted her from the 2013 Australian Open. “It definitely felt like a bigger match because Sloane is such a great player, but I had to stay focused,” Williams... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1301727/serena-williams-and-li-na-cruise-us-open-quarters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1301727/serena-williams-and-li-na-cruise-us-open-quarters?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Sep 2013 03:06:38 +0000 Chinese fifth seed Li Na advanced to the fourth round of the US Open on Friday, smacking 11 aces in a 6-2, 7-5 victory over British teen Laura Robson. Li avenged a third-round loss to Robson last year’s tournament and will next face either Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara or Serbian ninth seed Jelena Jankovic for a berth in the quarter-finals. “I was really happy how I was hitting on the court,” Li said. “And I thought I served really well.” Connecting on 65 per cent of her first serves and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1300856/li-avenges-us-open-defeat-robson-reach-last-16?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1300856/li-avenges-us-open-defeat-robson-reach-last-16?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Aug 2013 16:57:23 +0000 The New York Times has issued an apology to Chinese professional tennis player Li Na for publishing a report that alleged Li had been forced into early retirement after taking steroids. The lengthy profile piece, entitled “Li Na, China’s Tennis Rebel", was originally published on August 22. In it, reporter Brook Larmer wrote that Li’s two-year break from the tennis world in 2002 had been caused by a number of different factors, including “the burnout from excessive training, the outrage at her... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1300694/new-york-times-apologises-tennis-superstar-li-na-steroid-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1300694/new-york-times-apologises-tennis-superstar-li-na-steroid-use?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:19:57 +0000 China’s fiery tennis superstar Li Na heads into next week’s US Open eyeing a second Grand Slam crown but with questions over her temperament mounting in Chinese media after two furious outbursts. Winning the 2011 French Open title sealed Li’s place as the country’s tennis darling as 116 million people at home tuned in to watch her become Asia’s first Grand Slam singles champion. I lost a game and that’s it. Do I need to get on my knees and kowtow to them? Apologise to them? But the world... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1298557/li-na-faces-scrutiny-over-fiery-temper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1298557/li-na-faces-scrutiny-over-fiery-temper?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:24:54 +0000 Li Na confessed she was a convert to serve-and-volley tennis and has vowed to take her newfound skills at the net with her into the US hard-court season. The Chinese number one tried out the tactics at Wimbledon and, though it did not get her into the semi-finals, the 31-year-old is keen to prove she can mix it with the best of them in the dying art. The 2011 French Open champion will take a month off recuperating after her Wimbledon exploits, freshening up to tackle the run-up ahead of the US... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1274795/net-it-be-li-na-who-embracing-dying-art-serve-and-volley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1274795/net-it-be-li-na-who-embracing-dying-art-serve-and-volley?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jul 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The People’s Daily has started a heated debate about whether Chinese athletes represent the nation after criticising tennis player Li Na and world-record-holding swimmer Sun Yang for being “overly prima donna-ish”. “Who can restrain this terrible capriciousness?”, the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party wrote on Monday. Sun was criticised by the paper for falling out with his long-time coach Zhu Zhigen, casting doubt over his participation at the World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1274489/chinas-communist-party-paper-blasts-capricious-top-athletes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1274489/chinas-communist-party-paper-blasts-capricious-top-athletes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jul 2013 03:22:25 +0000 Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska beat China's Li Na yesterday to set up a Wimbledon semi-final against Sabine Lisicki, the slayer of Serena Williams. Fourth-seeded Radwanska, the highest seed left following the exit of defending champion Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, beat Li, the sixth seed, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-2 in a gripping two-hour, 43 minute contest which was completed under the Centre Court roof. Radwanska, the runner-up in 2012, took victory on an eighth match point. The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1274261/radwanska-outlasts-li-epic-wimbledon-quarter-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/1274261/radwanska-outlasts-li-epic-wimbledon-quarter-final?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jul 2013 16:04:29 +0000