Li Na facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Li Na
李娜

Li at the 2015 Australian Open
Country (sports)	China
Residence	Wuhan, Hubei
Born	(1982-02-26) 26 February 1982 (age 43) Wuhan, Hubei
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Turned pro	1999
Retired	April 2002–May 2004; 19 September 2014
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
College	Huazhong University of Science and Technology (B.A.)
Coach	Jiang Shan (2006–2012) Thomas Högstedt (2009–2010) Michael Mortensen (2011) Carlos Rodríguez (2012–2014)
Prize money	$16,709,074 30th in all-time rankings
Int. Tennis HoF	2019 (member page)
Singles
Career record	503–188 (72.79%)
Career titles	9
Highest ranking	No. 2 (17 February 2014)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	W (2014)
French Open	W (2011)
Wimbledon	QF (2006, 2010, 2013)
US Open	SF (2013)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	F (2013)
Olympic Games	SF – 4th (2008)
Doubles
Career record	121–50 (70.76%)
Career titles	2
Highest ranking	No. 54 (28 August 2006)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	2R (2006, 2007)
French Open	2R (2006, 2007)
Wimbledon	2R (2006)
US Open	3R (2005)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	2R (2012)
Medal record Representing  China Women's tennis Universiade Gold 2001 Beijing Singles Gold 2001 Beijing Doubles Gold 2001 Beijing Mixed doubles Asian Games Gold 2010 Guangzhou Team Bronze 2006 Doha Singles

Li Na (born 26 February 1982) is a famous Chinese former professional tennis player. She reached world No. 2 in women's singles, which is a very high ranking. Li won nine major singles titles, including two Grand Slam tournaments: the 2011 French Open and the 2014 Australian Open.

These wins made her the first tennis player from Asia, male or female, to win a major singles title. She also finished second at the 2011 Australian Open, 2013 Australian Open, and the 2013 WTA Tour Championships.

Li was a pioneer for tennis in China. She was the first Chinese player to win a WTA Tour title in 2004. She was also the first to reach a major singles quarterfinal, a major singles final, and to enter the world's top ten. By 2013, she was considered the most successful Asian tennis player of her time. Time magazine even included her in their list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Li retired from tennis in September 2014 when she was 32 years old. In 2019, she was honored by being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was the first Asian player to receive this special award.

Li Na's Tennis Journey

Li Na started playing badminton at age six, following her father. This helped her develop quick reflexes. Just before her eighth birthday, a coach convinced her to switch to tennis. She joined China's National Tennis Team in 1997. The next year, she studied tennis at the John Newcombe Academy in Texas for ten months. Her favorite tennis player growing up was Andre Agassi. She became a professional tennis player in 1999 at sixteen.

In 2002, Li left the national team to study journalism at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. There were different reasons for this break. Some said it was because of her relationship with her future husband, Jiang Shan. Others mentioned strict coaches or her desire for a personal coach. Li later shared that she felt sick every day and wanted more from life than just tennis.

Li returned to the national team in 2004. On January 27, 2006, she married Jiang Shan, who then became her personal coach. In 2008, Li left the state-run sports system under a new policy. This allowed her to hire her own coaches and keep more of her prize money. This change was called "Fly Solo" by Chinese media.

On June 5, 2016, Li became a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.

Early Career Success (1999–2002)

Li turned professional in 1999. She quickly won three of her first four singles tournaments on the ITF Circuit. She also won all of her first seven ITF doubles tournaments.

In 2000, she won 52 singles matches on the ITF Circuit, more than any other player. She also won eight more tournament titles that year. By the end of 2000, Li had won a total of eleven ITF singles titles and seven more ITF doubles events.

In 2002, she won her first $75k singles tournament in Midland, United States. After this, she took a long break from playing for 25 months. Some reports said this was due to disagreements with the national team, while others said she wanted to focus on her university studies.

Returning to Tennis (2004–2005)

Li Na at the 2009 US Open

Li returned to tennis in May 2004. Even though she had no ranking, she won 26 matches in a row, earning three more $25k tournament wins and another $50k title. This brought her total singles titles to 18.

In September 2004, she got a special entry into the Beijing tournament. The very next week, Li won her first WTA Tour title at the Guangzhou event. This made her the first Chinese player to win a WTA event.

By October 2004, she entered the WTA top 100 for the first time. She finished 2004 ranked world No. 80, having won 51 singles matches and losing only four. In 2005, Li focused on bigger tournaments. She reached the third round of the 2005 Australian Open, her first Grand Slam. She also reached her second WTA Tour final at Estoril.

Breaking Records (2006)

In 2006, Li reached the semifinals at a major tournament in Berlin. There, she beat a top-10 player for the first time. She also won her second WTA doubles title in Birmingham.

At Wimbledon, she was seeded 27th, a first for a Chinese woman. She reached the fourth round and then became the first Chinese player ever to reach any Grand Slam quarterfinal. After Wimbledon, Li reached a new career-high ranking of world No. 20.

Key Moments (2007–2009)

Li Na at the 2008 Luxembourg Open

Li started 2007 strong, reaching the semifinals in Sydney and the fourth round of the Australian Open. She reached a career high of No. 16. She also made it to the semifinals at Indian Wells and the quarterfinals at the Miami Open.

In January 2008, Li returned from a rib injury. She won her second career singles title at Gold Coast, ending a three-year title drought. At the Beijing Olympics, she surprised many by defeating Venus Williams in the quarterfinals. She finished fourth after losing in the semifinals and bronze medal match.

In 2008, Li also beat world No. 1 Serena Williams in Stuttgart. This made her only the second Chinese player to defeat a world No. 1. In 2009, she reached her fifth career tour final at the Monterrey Open. She also made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time. She finished 2009 ranked world No. 15, her highest year-end ranking at that time.

Reaching the Top 10 (2010)

Li Na at the 2010 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

At the Australian Open, Li reached her first Grand Slam semifinal. She beat world No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki and world No. 6 Venus Williams. This amazing performance made her the first Chinese woman ever to be ranked in the top ten of women's professional tennis.

Li won the Birmingham Classic in June 2010, returning to the top 10. She also reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the second time. She finished 2010 ranked world No. 11, her best season so far.

Grand Slam Champion (2011)

Li Na in 2011 French Open semifinal

Li started 2011 by winning the Sydney International title, beating Kim Clijsters in the final. At the Australian Open, she reached her first Grand Slam singles final, a historic achievement for an East Asian player. She lost to Kim Clijsters in a close match.

After some tough losses, Li hired a new coach, Michael Mortensen. Her performance improved, and she reached the semifinals at the Madrid Open and Italian Open.

On June 4, 2011, Li won her first major title at the French Open. She became the first tennis player from an East Asian country to win a Grand Slam singles event. Her final match was watched by 330 million viewers worldwide. This victory made her a national hero in China. After the French Open, Li reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4.

She made her debut at the 2011 WTA Tour Championships at the end of the year. She finished 2011 as world No. 5.

More Success (2012)

Li Na in Miami

Li started 2012 by reaching the final of the Sydney International again. At the Australian Open, she reached the fourth round but lost a very close match to Kim Clijsters, even holding four match points.

She reached the final of the Italian Open but lost to Maria Sharapova. After the 2012 London Olympics, Li started working with coach Carlos Rodríguez.

This new partnership quickly brought success. Li reached the final of the Rogers Cup and then won the Cincinnati Open. This was her first title since the 2011 French Open. She finished 2012 ranked world No. 7.

Another Grand Slam Final (2013)

Li Na with coach Carlos Rodríguez at the 2013 US Open

Li started 2013 by winning the Shenzhen Open. At the Australian Open, she reached her second final in three years. She beat two top-4 players, Agnieszka Radwańska and Maria Sharapova, on her way. In the final, she faced Victoria Azarenka. Li fell twice during the match, once hitting her head, but bravely continued playing. She eventually lost in three sets.

Despite injuries, Li continued to play well. She reached the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. At Wimbledon, she reached the quarterfinals for the third time.

At the US Open, Li reached her first semifinal at that tournament. She qualified for the 2013 WTA Tour Championships and won all her group matches. She reached the final, where she lost to Serena Williams. Li finished 2013 ranked world No. 3, her highest-ever year-end ranking.

Australian Open Champion and Retirement (2014)

Li started 2014 by successfully defending her title at the Shenzhen Open. This was the first time she had ever defended a title.

At the Australian Open, Li was the fourth seed. She saved a match point in the second round against Lucie Šafářová. She then went on to reach her third Australian Open final in four years. In the final, she defeated Dominika Cibulková in straight sets to win her first Australian Open title. This made her the first East Asian Australian Open champion.

After the tournament, Li reached a new career-high singles ranking of world No. 2. She reached the final of the Miami Open, where she lost to world No. 1 Serena Williams.

Li's season was affected by a left knee injury. She lost in the first round of the French Open, her earliest loss there. She also lost in the third round of Wimbledon. In July, Li and her coach Carlos Rodríguez decided to part ways.

On September 19, 2014, Li announced her retirement from professional tennis due to her knee injury. She ended her amazing career ranked world No. 6.

Popularity and Endorsements

Li Na is one of the most famous and marketable athletes in the world. In 2013, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine and named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Former tennis star Chris Evert said that tennis "exploded in China" because of Li.

Li also appeared on the cover of Time magazine in May 2014, with an article calling her a "world class sports idol." In China, she is lovingly called "Big Sister Na." She is seen as a strong role model who inspires people to be independent. Her social media account on Sina Weibo had over 23 million followers in 2014.

In 2015, Li received the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement award. She was also nominated for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.

Nike was Li's main sponsor for many years. She also had deals with other big companies. In 2019, a movie about Li Na's life, based on her autobiography, was directed by Peter Chan.

Playing Style

Li was an aggressive player who hit the ball hard from the back of the court. She had quick reflexes and was very athletic. Her shots were powerful and accurate. Her forehand was a favorite shot, hit with great speed. Her backhand was very consistent and she could hit amazing winners down the line.

Li was known for hitting the ball cleanly and powerfully, often overpowering her opponents. While her serve wasn't always super powerful, it was well-placed. She was also good at moving around the court and turning defense into attack. Because she was a good doubles player, she was comfortable playing at the net.

Sometimes, Li's game could be inconsistent, leading to errors. Her shots were often flat, meaning they didn't have much spin. Under coach Carlos Rodríguez, Li improved her game by adding more topspin to her forehand and coming to the net more often. She also became more consistent and mentally strong.

Rivalries

Li vs. Sharapova

Li Na had an interesting rivalry with Maria Sharapova. Sharapova won their first five matches. But then Li won four matches in a row against Sharapova, including the 2009 and 2010 Birmingham finals and the 2011 French Open semifinals, which Li went on to win.

In 2012, Sharapova won all three of their matches, including a big final in Rome. In 2013, Li beat Sharapova easily in the Australian Open semifinals. Sharapova later won their matches in Stuttgart and Madrid. Overall, Sharapova led their head-to-head record 10-5.

Li vs. Radwańska

Li and Agnieszka Radwańska played each other many times. Li led their head-to-head record 6-5. They had some close matches, including at Wimbledon. In 2012, Li won three out of four matches against Radwańska. Li's wins prevented Radwańska from becoming world No. 1.

In 2013, Radwańska beat Li in the Sydney semifinals. But Li got her revenge by beating Radwańska in the Australian Open quarterfinals. They had another close match at Wimbledon, where Radwańska won in three sets.

Li vs. Clijsters

Li and Kim Clijsters had a well-known rivalry. Clijsters won most of their matches, especially at Grand Slams. Clijsters defeated Li in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2006 and the US Open in 2009.

One of Li's wins against Clijsters was in the final of the 2011 Sydney International. Li came back from being far behind to win the match. They met again two weeks later in the Australian Open final. Li won the first set, but Clijsters came back to win the title. They also played at the Australian Open again, where Clijsters won another close three-set match.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Tournament Finals

Singles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2011	Australian Open	Hard	Kim Clijsters	6–3, 3–6, 3–6
Win	2011	French Open	Clay	Francesca Schiavone	6–4, 7–6(7–0)
Loss	2013	Australian Open	Hard	Victoria Azarenka	6–4, 4–6, 3–6
Win	2014	Australian Open	Hard	Dominika Cibulková	7–6(7–3), 6–0

Olympic Medal Matches

Singles: 1

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
4th place	2008	Summer Olympics Beijing, China	Hard	Vera Zvonareva	0–6, 5–7

Personal Life

Family and Background

Li Na was born on February 26, 1982, in Wuhan, China. Her grandfather was a sports teacher. Her father, Li Shengpeng, played badminton but his sports career was interrupted. He later worked in a factory. He passed away when Li Na was fourteen.

Her mother, Li Yanping, worked for a ferry company. When Li Na was three, she lived with her grandmother for a short time.

Marriage and Children

Li Na is married to Jiang Shan, and they have two children. On January 19, 2015, Li announced they were expecting their first child. Their daughter, Alisa, was born in June 2015. Their second child, a boy, was born on December 23, 2016. Li often calls her husband 'Dennis'.

Li Na owns apartments in New York City and Boston, Massachusetts.

See also

In Spanish: Li Na para niños

• Tennis in China
• List of female tennis players
• List of Grand Slam women's singles champions
• Tennis performance timeline comparison (women)