Chinese Tennis Superstar
Author adminPosted on 1 Comment on Li Na’s words in interview, she is really a true woman. Li Video clip Rating: 5 / five
Although Maria Sharapove may be the highest earning female sport star in the world few would know that the second richest is Li Na, the world No. 7 women’s tennis player and winner of a single grand slam title in a 13-year career.
But that surprise victory at the French Open almost a year ago transformed Li into one of the world’s most marketable athletes. According to Forbes.com, she earned $18 million to April 2012 (up $10 million from 2011) — $8 million shy of Sharapova’s total but $5 million more than third-placed Serena Williams.
So why are brands scrambling to associate with Li, who will defend her title at Roland Garros when the clay-court major starts on Sunday??? “Two words: She’s Chinese,” says Simon Chadwick, Professor of Sport Business Strategy and Marketing at Coventry University Business School in Britain.”Li Na is out there on her own, firstly in terms of being a female Chinese sportsperson and secondly in terms of her international profile and success.”
With a great deal of capital behind her a successful defence of her French open title in Paris would surely propel her into superstardom. He agent believed that last year’s victory represented a ‘win that was a lot bigger than tennis.” Reports suggest that as a result of her victory the sport of tennis has seen exponential growth in China with young children desperate to learn the game to emulate their hero Na Li. A successful tournament at Wimbledon and the 30 year old may well become a global brand not just a Chinese sporting hero. Either way her success is good for tennis
Author adminPosted on 1 Comment on Li Na quarterfinals press conference Apia International Sydney 2012 Li Video clip Ranking: five / 5
Li Na is one among thefew Chinese professional tennis players having won 5 World Tennis Associations and almost 19 ITF single titles. Li Na also won the 2011 Australia Open and this made her the first player from an Asian country to appear in Grand Slam single finals. Li Na was born in the year 1982 ; one of the older tennis players and is presently ranked world number 8.
Between the year 1994-2004, that is a span of around ten years Li Na won around 20 women single titles. She was married to Jiang Shan who then became her professional coach for the game. After around three and quarter years she won her second WTA tour title which was in the year 2008. Alongside single tournaments, Li Na has also played double tournaments and she has won two WTA double tournaments and also 19 ITF events. Li Na also made an impact in the double entries with winning 16 ITF matches. However one disappointing feature of all her tournaments and matches is that she had a lot of injuries in her journey. These injuries also made her suffer a two year hiatus for completing in her 20’s and prevented her from playing for several periods. In the year 2005 she had an ankle injury and also lost matches.
Li Na started her season with the 2012 Hopman Cup where she won against Marion, Jarmila and Anabel The Li Na started her Australian Open Tournament by playing against Pervak, Olivia, Anabel and had a very tough time playing with Kim. After the disappointing Australian Cup, Li Na started her journey with the 2012 Fed Cup and won all matches I in the round robin stage. However at last she surrendered to the Frech Champion. However this made China come into the play offs. Li Na also took part in the 2012 Sony Ericsson Miami Open and got through the quarter finals.
Li Video Ranking: 5 / 5
Chinese tennis sensation Li Na has rejected calls for her to hire an international coach is is getting visibly frustrated with questions about who would be best to coach her.
She said in an interview on Monday that she is happy with the team that she has in place and that as of this moment there are no plans to replace her current coach and husband, Jiang Shan.
When Li was asked whether or not she was considering hiring a non-Chinese coach for the 2012 London Olympics which are to be held later this year she replied “I don’t know why the media are so interested in this issue, maybe you are not confident in Jiang and my current team, but up to now, I haven’t had any intention of recruiting a foreign coach. And I hope the media won’t ask about it again.”
Jiang, a Chinese national was formerly a player himself before meeting Li and agreeing to coach her full time. He has had success in the job as well with Li Na making the final of the Australian Open under his direction.
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