Women's History Wednesday Profile: Li Na
Li Na tracks down the ball during the 2014 Australian Open Final (Photo: Nicolas Luttiau/Presse Sports via USA TODAY Sport)
Li Na first came onto the WTA scene in 1999. As a professional tennis player, Na went on to win 19 ITF titles, 9 WTA titles, including two Grand Slams, and was ranked in the top ten multiple times throughout her career. In her 15 year pro career, she became the highest rank Asian player ever, male or female. She also was the first Chinese player to break the top ten (2010), to win a title (2004), and to win a Grand Slam (2011).
The Chinese tennis player is often celebrated for the barriers she broke, but her relationship with her Country has been a tumultuous one.
In Her Blood
Na was born in 1982 in Wuhan, China to a professional badminton player. Na’s father, Li Shengpeng’s professional career was impacted by The Cultural Revolution in China during the rule of Mao Zedong. In the 1960’s the Chinese leader purged the country of “impurities” and return the nationalist sentiment that led to victory in the Civil War two decades prior. Li Shengpeng likely impressed his love and passion for the game on his daughter, essentially trusting a 5 year old Li Na into the state sponsored sports school. However, the young Na’s body type was determined to be an imperfect fit for badminton, so a decision was made to place her in tennis instead.
For Love of Country
The decision made by her family to enroll her in a state school meant an arduous training schedule would be her reality for the next several years. The infamous Chinese Olympic Athlete breeding ground is know as juguo tizhi, or “whole nation regime”. Since the late 1980’s China has revolutionized the time, resources and funding spent to deliver quality athletes for International competition. The revelation of the importance of sport and the attainment of International elite status can been seen as far back as 1963, when Vice Prime Minister stated, “The achievements in sports are the glory of our country and people. But the glory cannot be achieved without hard training.”
Photo: Handout/Reuters
Thus, the advent of “army intensive training and practice methods” were embraced in China. By the time Li na was enrolled in sports schools, China was decades into a strict regimen of training. During the period of 1985-1993, China had 404 female athletes atop International competitors, making up 51 percent of all Chinese athletes at the elite level. During the 1992 Olympics, female athletes in China won 12 gold medals, which accounted for 75% of the nation’s tally. By 1998, Chinese women had 50 championships (of 83 total for China) and broke 28 (of 31 total) world records a total of 65 times (of 68 times total for China).
Li Na’s Rebel Heart
(USA TODAY Sports Images)
It wasn’t long into her young trajectory in the intensive sports program that Li na began to buck the system. Although Ma refers to her father as the “sunshine of her life” and one’s whose love was the “source of my strength”, she did not feel the same way about her coaches. At the age of eleven, Na once refused to continue training after reaching her point of exhaustion. She was punished, forced to stand in silence until she apologized; Li Na held out for three days. Na continued in the system through the next six years, but by 20 years old, she was through. Despite her drive to play for her late father, despite her goal to be a Top Ten player in the world, Li Na was through. She left a note on the desk in her dorm room, requesting an early retirement as the number one ranked tennis player in China. She and her then boyfriend, Jiang Shaan, fled the sports camp and went to live life of a normal twenty-something in college. As soon as I got home, I turned off my mobile and refused to take any phone calls … Freedom was delicious” recalls Li na in her autobiography.
Professional Career
Two years later, enjoying her normal life she was asked by a Chinese official to consider playing for herself. Li Na had no concept of what that meant; how could she? At 22, Li was intrigued by the thought and came out of retirement. Four years later she became the first Chinese player to win a WTA title and cracked the Top 25 world rankings. The rising star would soon request to manage her own career to reach her goal, a Top Ten ranking. Very few Chinese athletes are granted permission to roam independently, but Li Na was determined to try.
After an Olympic performance that inspired a nation, Li Na had the leverage she needed to get her freedom … again. Whether cornered by her ultimatum - independence or retirement - China instituted a new policy known as danfei (fly free), Na and a handful of other athletes were given the autonomy to select their own coaches and manage their careers, but still were obligated to fulfill national appearances from time to time. With her new freedom, Na hired a familiar face as her coach, Jiang Shaan.
A Family Affair
Na and her husband and former coach, Jiang Shaan
Photo Credit: Sim Chi Yin/VII Mentor Program for the New York Times
Now, she and her husband/coach Jiang, also referred to as “Dennis”, were responsible for all the aspects of her career. Na recalls the accounting to be an overwhelming aspect. Not only had China always managed Na’s finances, they also received over 60% of her income. Under her new independence, Li Na surrendered less than 15% of her earnings to her country.
After her performance at the 2010 Australian Open, where she finally broke the Top Ten. The next year, Li Na won her first Grand Slam at the French Open. The Asian market exploded during Na’s run, and the WTA and sponsors rode the wave right along with her. The couple was greatly enjoying the increased earnings, but all the attention and responsibility that came with it might have been too much.
Eventually, Na selected another coach, Carlos Rodriguez. In addition to Carlos pushing Li Na in training, the Chinese WTA Champion also accredits him for saving her marriage. With Rodriguez on her team, she and Jiang did not have to talk about tennis, “I mean, if we’re out of the tennis court we never talk about tennis,” stated Li. This, she felt would allow her to enjoy a long marriage. Although Jiang was no longer her coach, he remained by her side throughout her career, quitting his job to be supportive. Li Na’s humor became one of the things so many loved about her, especially after a win. Although she often joked that her husband was lucky to have found her, and that he does a lot, like “make the drinks”, she knows how important Jaing’s support has been. So does China.
Jiang, according to Li Na was somewhat of a celebrity during her career. Li Na attributes his fame to his unyielding support. As is the case throughout the world, it is still unusual, and even looked down on, for a man to take back burner to his wife. Men and women alike in China respect and admire Jiang’s support of Na’s career. Therefore, when several injuries led Li Na to decide to retire for good, it was time with family that made her excited about what was to come.
The Retired Life
Li Na retired for the second and final time in September of 2014. Li Na had her famous husband, Jiang Shaan celebrated the first birthday of their first child, Alisha, on June 3rd. In May, she announced that she is expecting her second child later in the year. However, as you can see from her announcement (left), she has not stepped away from the game completely.
Last year, Li Na served as a WTA Finals Ambassador in Singapore. Na was able to meet with an encourage female tennis players from the U-14 and U-16 Invitationals, meeting with girls from Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and her home country of China, just to name a few.
In an article for Channel News Asia, Na reflected on the difference from being a player and an ambassador on the WTA tour, “When you’re playing, it’s much easier. You just make your schedule, follow the schedule. That’s it. As an ambassador, you have to see how the players are doing, how the team is run”. However, Na was up to the challenge and noted the importance of young talent having exposure to the tour, especially the pro players, ““I think this is a very good chance to bring more young players to see the Singapore finals. They can see the top players face-to-face. It’s not only about on the court, it’s about off the court. This is a package. When the Future Stars come onto the Tour, they would already have the experience. They’re not afraid of the Tour.”
Additionally, this month Li Na was named as the 60th member of the Laureus World Sports Academy. Laureus Academy aims to spread the message that sport can inspire, provide hope and empower young people throughout world. Of the opportunity, Na stated,
“Sport has given me so much throughout my life. The lessons I learned, the wins and the losses made me into the person I am today. I’m honoured to join this incredible team of sporting legends in the Laureus Academy and I’m looking forward to working with my fellow Academy Members, supporting the work of Laureus Sport for Good and inspiring young people around the world through sport. I am so happy that this is happening in Paris, which is a city which means so much to me.”
In a statement, Laures Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick noted, “Throughout her career she became an icon of the sport of tennis and a role model for youngsters in China and around the world. I know she is looking forward to taking her passion for sport into her role as an Academy Member. Li Na is a great pioneer for tennis in her country. There are already a lot more Chinese players out there and I think we'll see even more in the future thanks to Li Na.” Li Nahas meant a great deal to her hometown.
Even as the Republic of China criticised the WTA Champion about everything from her tattoo to her demeanor after matches, her mark on the sport, as well as the future of tennis in China cannot be denied. Today, Li Na’s hometown of Wuhan hosts its very own WTA Tournament.
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