TOPIC

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Li Na

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.

Born

26 Feb 1982

Industry

Sport

Job Title

Athlete

China’s Zheng Qinwen plays a match during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre on September 7. Photo: CSM via Zuma Press Wire/dpa

US Open (tennis)

Being Chinese | What’s so Chinese about US Open tennis players like Zheng Qinwen?

From afar, Chinese tennis stars can appear as a cohort, their names accompanied by the same flag. Up close, they’re nothing like one another.

26 Sep 2026 - 9:30AM

Style Edit

Style Edit: Rolex’s timeless commitment to tennis shines at the US Open

18 Sep 2026 - 10:00AM

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Meet China’s next Zheng: teen already world No 1, French Open Juniors finalist

7 Jun 2026 - 1:02PM

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open wins WTA 250-level tournament of the year award

The ‘M’ Mark event claims the annual award ahead of 22 other WTA International Series events held around the world in its category.

13 Dec 2024 - 10:35PM

The Hong Kong Open, won this year by Diana Shnaider of Russia, received the award for the second time, after first winning in 2018. Photo: May Tse

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Players at Hong Kong Open tennis looked tired, should manage schedules, says Li

Two-time grand slam champion also says she blesses ‘all Chinese players’ but declines to tell them how to play or to behave on the circuit.

7 Nov 2024 - 6:00PM

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open

China’s recent tennis success no fluke but reflects genuine progress, Li Na says

China’s only grand slam champion says the rise of the men’s game has been good, with Zhang Zhizhen’s July ranking a ‘very big breakthrough’.

12 Sep 2024 - 8:37AM

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

China’s centralised sports system spurs debate after Paris Olympics

Gold showing by tennis star Zheng Qinwen renews debate over the state’s role in sports that has endured for decades, cranking out medals but quelling marketisation.

13 Aug 2024 - 11:52AMvideocam

China’s Zheng Qinwen kisses her gold medal. Photo: Reuters

Style Edit

Style Edit: Rolex Shanghai Masters returns, Asia’s biggest tennis tournament

The event is Asia’s most important tennis tournament and will see Shanghai again host the world’s best tennis players, including current Rolex testimonies Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune

28 Sep 2023 - 10:25AM

US Open (tennis)

China’s women reach new heights at US Open, fab 4 into last 32

Zheng Qinwen and Yuan Yue join Wang Xiyu and Zhang Shaui in third round at Flushing Meadow.

2 Sep 2022 - 10:06AM

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Li Na thanks husband for ‘giving up dream’, he regrets she was never No 1

China’s most successful star and husband Jiang Shan speak frankly in interview for Hunan-based Mango TV.

23 Oct 2021 - 4:00PMvideocam

Li Na of China kisses the championship trophy after defeating Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in their women's singles final at the 2014 Australian Open. Photo: AP

US Open (tennis)

Zhang’s US Open win completes Chinese ‘golden slam’

Chinese players have now won at least one title at every major, as well as Olympics gold, after women’s doubles triumph in New York.

15 Sep 2021 - 4:48PMvideocam

China’s Zhang Shuai and Samantha Stosur of Australia celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating US pair Coco Gauff and Catherine McNally in the 2021 US Open women’s doubles final. Photo: AFP

Wimbledon

Profile | Who is Britain’s Chinese-Romanian teen tennis star Emma Raducanu?

‘London, Toronto, Bucharest, Shenyang’ writes 18-year-old Li Na and Simona Halep fan Raducanu in social media bio as fans and Wimbledon prize money rack up.

12 Sep 2021 - 11:34AM

French Open

China’s French Open hopes take a hit with doubles losses

Four of China’s five women’s doubles players out in second round with only No 13 seed Zheng Saisai still involved in Paris.

5 Jun 2021 - 11:21AMvideocam

Australian Open 2021

Opinion | China sport still punching below its weight

Country is thriving off the pitch in sponsorship and hosting events such as Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics but lagging behind on it.

1 Mar 2021 - 10:45AM

China’s Olympic team will be in action at Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 in the next 12 months but sporting success appears to be stagnating. Photo: EPA

French Open

Chinese consulate slams ‘fake news’ Li Na has changed nationality

Topic trends on Weibo after image of an application to Busan consulate in South Korea was uploaded on Monday.

5 Jan 2021 - 11:25AMvideocam

Li Na kisses the Australian Open trophy after defeating Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the 2014 final. Photo: AP

Sun Yang

Editorial | A test of fair play in the sporting arena

The banning of Chinese swimming superstar Sun Yang, accused of being a drug cheat, misses the point that there are two sides to every story, so a rehearing of his case is justified.

29 Dec 2020 - 10:22PM

French Open

French Open: China’s Zhang soars into career best round of 16

World No 39 Zhang Shuai becomes first Chinese player in French Open fourth round at Roland Garros since Li Na in 2012 after hard-fought win over teen Clara Burel.

4 Oct 2020 - 11:48AM

French Open

Li Na’s French Open win opened the door for Chinese and Asian tennis

The Wuhan native’s victory over Francesca Schiavone in Paris in 2011 was first singles grand slam for an Asian tennis player and former world No 2 handed 2019 Australian Open to Naomi Osaka.

4 Jun 2020 - 3:35PMvideocam

Li Na of China kisses the trophy after winning her women's final against Francesca Schiavone of Italy at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on June 4, 2011. Photo: Reuters

Naomi Osaka

Osaka sets record for 12-month earnings by female athlete

Japanese tennis star eclipses Maria Sharapova’s 2015 benchmark of US$29.7 million, earning US$1.4 million more than Serena Williams in last 12 months.

24 May 2020 - 3:40PMvideocam

Sun Yang

Sun Yang must learn that image matters

Superstar swimmer may be innocent of taking drugs but he does himself no favours with his often abrasive attitude.

2 Mar 2020 - 11:00PMvideocam

Coronavirus pandemic

Former Chinese rowing world champion loses husband to coronavirus

Olympian’s son and mother-in-law also diagnosed with the disease but are recovering.

20 Feb 2020 - 9:31AM

Pei Jiayun joins the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch run when it arrives Hubei Province. Photo: Hangout

Coronavirus pandemic

Sports stars send money, supplies and support to Wuhan

David Beckham, Sun Yang and Jeremy Lin among stars supporting Wuhan coronavirus fight as growing number of Chinese athletes and clubs offer help as city battles outbreak.

10 Feb 2020 - 8:55AM

Jeremy Lin of the Beijing Ducks in action in the Chinese Basketball Association. Photo: Xinhua

Coronavirus pandemic

Retired tennis star Li Na donates 3 million yuan to help fight epidemic

Retired tennis ace Li Na and other Wuhan sports stars make donations to help hometown fight against deadly coronavirus

7 Feb 2020 - 10:49PM

Australian Open 2021

Opinion | Slam or superstar – what’s next for Chinese tennis?

Wang Qiang’s Australian Open run shows Chinese tennis in need of a new star to follow in Li Na’s footsteps.

31 Jan 2020 - 11:30AM

Fame and celebrity

How Li Na plans to nurture China’s tennis champions of tomorrow

Li Na made history as the first Asian-born tennis player to win not just one but two Grand Slam titles – but since retiring five years ago, what has the Chinese champion been plotting next?

17 Dec 2019 - 10:46AM

Li Na in her quarter-final win over Andrea Petkovik of Germany in the 2011 Australian Open. Photo: Shutterstock

World-class tennis action

Video | China’s Li Na enters International Tennis Hall of Fame

23 Jul 2019 - 4:54AM

02:08

Wimbledon

Halep wants ‘revenge’ as Zhang aims to better Li Na

China’s only grand slam event winner only reached quarter-finals at the All-England Club three times

9 Jul 2019 - 2:09PM

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

China’s ‘country above all’ view comes at a cost for nation’s female athletes

Stars recalled from foreign contracts as country begins preparations for next year’s Olympics.

11 Dec 2019 - 12:39PMvideocam

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Li Na

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Being Chinese | What’s so Chinese about US Open tennis players like Zheng Qinwen?

From afar, Chinese tennis stars can appear as a cohort, their names accompanied by the same flag. Up close, they’re nothing like one another.

Style Edit: Rolex’s timeless commitment to tennis shines at the US Open

Meet China’s next Zheng: teen already world No 1, French Open Juniors finalist

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open wins WTA 250-level tournament of the year award

The ‘M’ Mark event claims the annual award ahead of 22 other WTA International Series events held around the world in its category.

Players at Hong Kong Open tennis looked tired, should manage schedules, says Li

Two-time grand slam champion also says she blesses ‘all Chinese players’ but declines to tell them how to play or to behave on the circuit.

China’s recent tennis success no fluke but reflects genuine progress, Li Na says

China’s only grand slam champion says the rise of the men’s game has been good, with Zhang Zhizhen’s July ranking a ‘very big breakthrough’.

China’s centralised sports system spurs debate after Paris Olympics

Gold showing by tennis star Zheng Qinwen renews debate over the state’s role in sports that has endured for decades, cranking out medals but quelling marketisation.

Style Edit: Rolex Shanghai Masters returns, Asia’s biggest tennis tournament

The event is Asia’s most important tennis tournament and will see Shanghai again host the world’s best tennis players, including current Rolex testimonies Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune

China’s women reach new heights at US Open, fab 4 into last 32

Zheng Qinwen and Yuan Yue join Wang Xiyu and Zhang Shaui in third round at Flushing Meadow.

Li Na thanks husband for ‘giving up dream’, he regrets she was never No 1

China’s most successful star and husband Jiang Shan speak frankly in interview for Hunan-based Mango TV.

Zhang’s US Open win completes Chinese ‘golden slam’

Chinese players have now won at least one title at every major, as well as Olympics gold, after women’s doubles triumph in New York.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Profile | Who is Britain’s Chinese-Romanian teen tennis star Emma Raducanu?

‘London, Toronto, Bucharest, Shenyang’ writes 18-year-old Li Na and Simona Halep fan Raducanu in social media bio as fans and Wimbledon prize money rack up.

China’s French Open hopes take a hit with doubles losses

Four of China’s five women’s doubles players out in second round with only No 13 seed Zheng Saisai still involved in Paris.

Opinion | China sport still punching below its weight

Country is thriving off the pitch in sponsorship and hosting events such as Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics but lagging behind on it.

Chinese consulate slams ‘fake news’ Li Na has changed nationality

Topic trends on Weibo after image of an application to Busan consulate in South Korea was uploaded on Monday.

Editorial | A test of fair play in the sporting arena

The banning of Chinese swimming superstar Sun Yang, accused of being a drug cheat, misses the point that there are two sides to every story, so a rehearing of his case is justified.

French Open: China’s Zhang soars into career best round of 16

World No 39 Zhang Shuai becomes first Chinese player in French Open fourth round at Roland Garros since Li Na in 2012 after hard-fought win over teen Clara Burel.

Li Na’s French Open win opened the door for Chinese and Asian tennis

The Wuhan native’s victory over Francesca Schiavone in Paris in 2011 was first singles grand slam for an Asian tennis player and former world No 2 handed 2019 Australian Open to Naomi Osaka.

Osaka sets record for 12-month earnings by female athlete

Japanese tennis star eclipses Maria Sharapova’s 2015 benchmark of US$29.7 million, earning US$1.4 million more than Serena Williams in last 12 months.

Sun Yang must learn that image matters

Superstar swimmer may be innocent of taking drugs but he does himself no favours with his often abrasive attitude.

Former Chinese rowing world champion loses husband to coronavirus

Olympian’s son and mother-in-law also diagnosed with the disease but are recovering.

Sports stars send money, supplies and support to Wuhan

David Beckham, Sun Yang and Jeremy Lin among stars supporting Wuhan coronavirus fight as growing number of Chinese athletes and clubs offer help as city battles outbreak.

Retired tennis star Li Na donates 3 million yuan to help fight epidemic

Retired tennis ace Li Na and other Wuhan sports stars make donations to help hometown fight against deadly coronavirus

Opinion | Slam or superstar – what’s next for Chinese tennis?

Wang Qiang’s Australian Open run shows Chinese tennis in need of a new star to follow in Li Na’s footsteps.

How Li Na plans to nurture China’s tennis champions of tomorrow

Li Na made history as the first Asian-born tennis player to win not just one but two Grand Slam titles – but since retiring five years ago, what has the Chinese champion been plotting next?

Video | China’s Li Na enters International Tennis Hall of Fame

Halep wants ‘revenge’ as Zhang aims to better Li Na

China’s only grand slam event winner only reached quarter-finals at the All-England Club three times

China’s ‘country above all’ view comes at a cost for nation’s female athletes

Stars recalled from foreign contracts as country begins preparations for next year’s Olympics.

Being Chinese | What’s so Chinese about US Open tennis players like Zheng Qinwen?

Profile | Who is Britain’s Chinese-Romanian teen tennis star Emma Raducanu?