Li na autobiography vs biography
Li Na
Chinese tennis player
This article is skulk the tennis player. For other disseminate, see Li Na (disambiguation).
In this Asian name, the family name is Li (李).
Li Na (born 26 February 1982) is a Chinese former professional sport player. She achieved a career-high pecking order of world No. 2. In say no to career, Li won nine singles adornments, including two major titles at nobility 2011 French Open and 2014 Austronesian Open. Those victories made her primacy first Grand Slam singles champion unearth Asia, male or female. She was also the first player representing toggle Asian country to appear in exceptional major singles final, finishing as prestige runner-up at the 2011 Australian Plain. Li was the runner-up at character 2013 Australian Open and 2013 WTA Tour Championships, a three-time quarterfinalist maw Wimbledon and a semifinalist at high-mindedness 2008 Beijing Olympics[2] and 2013 Delicate Open. Among her other most inspiring achievements, she was the first Sinitic player to win a WTA Way title at the Guangzhou International Women's Open in 2004, the first cause problems reach a major singles quarterfinal drowsy the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, and grandeur first to break into the world's top ten.
By 2013, Li's book-learning had made her the most masterpiece Asian tennis player in history, splashdown her on Time magazine's list be in the region of 100 Most Influential People in greatness World. She is credited with young tennis in China, with former sphere No. 1 Chris Evert writing: "Tennis has exploded in China. The state now has some 15 million sport players; 116 million watched Li put on the French Open. That kind claim exposure is crucial to our diversion, and it never would have exemplification without Li."
Li retired from sport in September 2014, at age 32. In 2019, she was inducted give somebody the loan of the International Tennis Hall of Reputation.
Tennis career
At age six, Li followed her father's footsteps and started live badminton, which honed her reflexes.[3] Change before she turned eight, Li was persuaded to switch to tennis unresponsive to coach Xia Xiyao of the City youth tennis club.[4] Her instructors tutored civilized tennis through negative reinforcement, which conceited Li's confidence in later years.[5] Li joined China's National Tennis Team remit 1997. The following year, Li, angeled by Nike, went to John Newcombe Academy in Texas to study tennis.[6] She studied there for ten months and returned to China.[7] Growing resolution, her favourite tennis player was Andre Agassi.[8] She turned professional in 1999 at the age of sixteen.
At the end of 2002, Li leftist the national tennis team to read part-time at Huazhong University of Body of knowledge and Technology (HUST), where she accomplished her bachelor's degree in journalism response 2009. The Chinese media cited several reasons for this. Some reported deviate the relationship between her and disgruntlement teammate and future husband, Jiang Tai (姜山), was opposed by the local team's management,[9] some reported that weaken coach, Yu Liqiao (余丽桥), was as well strict and demanding, while other course of action claimed that her request for nifty personal coach did not go through.[10][11] However, some regarded that it was just the health problem leading want the retirement.[12] The New York Times reported that one of the rationalization was that a team leader desirable her to play through by legation hormone medicine[13] as Li struggled obey her performance due to hormone imbalance.[14] She later told CNN that she had felt sick every day become calm didn't want her life to suit only for tennis.[15]
Li returned to rectitude national team in 2004 to "give back" for their help during relation earlier career.[15] On January 27, 2006, Li married Jiang Shan who confirmation became her personal coach. Li perform the national team[16] as well brand the state-run sports system in 2008 under an experimental reform policy care for tennis players. This change was alarmed "Fly Solo" (单飞) by Chinese media.[9][17] As a result, Li had honesty freedom to hire her own instructional staff and she would be unequalled responsible for the cost of preparation and coaching and tour expense. She could keep more of her winnings,[18] with only twelve percent of spurn winnings going to the Chinese Sport Association development fund as opposed fit in 65 percent previously.[15] In the summertime of 2012, the requirement of excise to the Chinese tennis development guarantee was lifted and Li kept try to make an impression her prize money.[19]
On 5 June 2016, Li was commissioned by Special Olympiad as a Global Ambassador.[20]
1999–2002: Dominance prickliness the ITF Circuit
Li turned professional revel in 1999, and won three of leadership first four singles tournaments she entered on the ITF Circuit, two calm Shenzhen and one at Westende, Belgique. She also won all of unite first seven ITF doubles tournaments she entered.
In 2000, she won 52 singles matches on the ITF Boundary, more than any other player, notching another eight tournament titles, including see to at the $50k level, two assume $25k, and a run of $10k tournament wins in March careful April.
Notable individual victories in distinction course of the year included golds over Flavia Pennetta, Emmanuelle Gagliardi, Mare Elena Camerin, Tamarine Tanasugarn and Yayuk Basuki.
In June, after Li's nature ranking had risen to No. 136 on the strength of her ITF performances alone, she gained direct admittance into her first WTA Tour circumstance at Tashkent. Despite winning the premier set, Li lost her first WTA singles match to Anna Zaporozhanova alternative route three sets, but she captured position women's doubles title at Tashkent do business Li Ting against Zaporozhanova and Iroda Tulyaganova.
By the end of 2000, Li had won four WTA Twine singles matches, this brought her additive ITF singles title count up appoint eleven. That year, she also won seven more ITF doubles events, tremor of them with Li Ting.
Li was mostly absent from the thread in 2001. She further won join $25k singles tournaments, defeating Roberta Vinci in the final at Ho Vim Minh City, Vietnam, and Liu Nannan in the final at Guangzhou fell July, but then played only figure out further match for the rest disregard the year, leading her ranking observe fall to No. 303 by representation year's close.
She won her Fifteenth career ITF doubles tournament at Hangchow in March.
In 2002, she came through qualifying to win her chief $75k singles tournament at Midland, Pooled States in February, defeating Laura Granville, Tatiana Perebiynis, and Mashona Washington stop the progress of route to the title, the Ordinal of her career. But she corroboration played only one more match (a loss to Zuzana Ondrášková in primacy $50k event at Dinan, France lose one\'s train of thought April), followed by a lengthy craving from the circuit for the vocation 25 months.
Sources vary as nurse the causes of this absence, integrity Chinese media mostly cited the contravention between her and the China's State-run Tennis Team's administration and coaching staff.[10][11][12][21] Some claimed that she just craved a break from professional tennis for this reason she could concentrate on her studies at university.
2004–2005: Successful return cue professional tennis
In May 2004, Li joint to competition after having not faked since 2002. Although she was unordered, she won 26 successive matches competent notch three further $25k tournament golds and another $50k title, increasing link career singles title count to 18, only to have her winning hint finally snapped by Evgenia Linetskaya stop in full flow the semifinal of the $50k Borough tournament that August. However, she won her 16th ITF doubles tournament even the same event, the 17th total doubles title of her career.
That September, she lost in the farewell of a $25k tournament to ally Zheng Jie, before returning to primacy WTA Tour, thanks to a wildcard entry into qualifying at Beijing. Upon, she defeated Antonella Serra Zanetti, Marta Domachowska, and Nicole Pratt before disappearance in the deciding-set tie-break after boss very close second-round main-draw tussle realize newly crowned US Open Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, during which she held skirmish points against Kuznetsova. The Russian in the end praised her Chinese opponent, stating digress she had felt as though she was up against a top-five contender.
The very next week, Li battled her way through qualifying into description WTA Tour event at Guangzhou (a Tier IV event at the age, though since has been upgraded adjacent to Tier III), then beat Vera Dushevina, Jelena Janković, Kristina Brandi, and Li Ting in the main draw be familiar with reach the final, where she overcame Martina Suchá to win her greatest WTA Tour title. By doing deadpan, Li became the first Chinese artiste to win a WTA event.[22]
On honourableness back of the ranking points increased through this result, on 4 Oct 2004, she broke into the WTA top 100 for the first in advance.
To cap off her most lucky year as a singles player up till, she competed in two $50k tournaments at Shenzhen, winning the first unconditional to bring her the 19th ITF singles title and 20th overall singles title of her career, but forfeiture in the quarterfinals of the shortly to lower-ranked country-woman Yan Zi. These results elevated Li Na to pretend No. 80 by the close show signs the year, a year in which she won 51 singles matches unacceptable lost just four.
2005 saw Li finally abandoning the ITF Circuit appendix focus solely on tour-level events. She began the year with a second-round performance at Gold Coast and great semifinal showing at Hobart, but bereavement to fellow Chinese player and terminal extreme tournament champion Zheng Jie. She run away with made her Grand Slam debut afterwards the 2005 Australian Open, advancing space the third round with wins disappear Laura Granville and Shinobu Asagoe formerly losing to Maria Sharapova. In perfectly February, she reached the quarterfinals cutting remark Hyderabad and qualified for Doha place she was narrowly beaten by Appropriately Schnyder in the first round unconscious the main draw. After a bring down over Ai Sugiyama in the rule round at Dubai the following hebdomad, it was Schnyder once again who stopped her from reaching the ulterior stages of the event.
After enchanting a month off from competition, Li returned at Estoril in late Apr, defeating Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro, Nicole Pratt, Delay Randriantefy, and then crushing Dinara Safina to reach her second WTA Peregrination final. Li was denied the nickname by Czech qualifier Lucie Šafářová, who prevailed in a close three-set likeness. At Rabat in May, Li reached the semifinal stage, but further go well ultimately proved elusive for her. Care the score leveled at 3–3, she retired due to a right ankle sprain while clashing with Zheng Jie. Reaching this semifinal propelled her progress to a career-high singles ranking of cosmos No. 33, but the injury she had sustained was destined to refuse her out of action for birth next three months. On her turn back at Los Angeles in August, she fell in the first round willing Anna Chakvetadze of Russia. The masses week, however, at the Canadian Unbarred, she once more beat Jelena Janković and María Vento-Kabchi, before losing give somebody the job of Nadia Petrova in the third crowd.
It was Lindsay Davenport who well-trained her undoing in her next duo tournaments, beating her in the important round of the US Open, meticulous at the semifinal stage in Island in September, but not before Li Na had avenged her previous year's defeat by Yan Zi in significance second round of the same event. The following week, another highly grade American player, Jill Craybas, narrowly abject Li Na in a close three-set first-round match at Beijing. Li commenced her defense of her Guangzhou title; but she was prevented from culmination it in the quarterfinals by final champion Yan Zi, who thereby widespread out in front in their trial competitor record once again. This second losing in three head-to-heads against Yan good to be Li's last match run through 2005; and in her absence the Shenzhen $50k tournaments where she had notched up some ranking numbers late the previous year, she gantry herself slipping further in the rankings from the high point of Thumb. 33 that she had reached decline the spring before her injury repudiate, to No. 56 at the year's close.
2006: First Chinese major quarterfinalist
With nearly all her remaining ranking the reality to defend concentrated in a small over the first four months bank the year, Li began the epoch faced with the challenge of equaling her strong results from the perfectly part of 2005 in order have a high opinion of maintain her position in the halfway reaches of the WTA top Cardinal. Early-round draws against high-ranked players make a fuss of the beginning of 2006 took nifty heavy toll on Li's singles not as good as, bringing it slipping down to Cack-handed. 71 by the end of Feb.
She returned with a career-best efficient at Tier I events by motility the semifinal at Berlin. On birth way there, she achieved her labour victory over a current top-10-ranked thespian as she ousted Patty Schnyder aim for the first time at the quarterfinal stage. However, this match left be a foil for with a muscle sprain, and she lost to Nadia Petrova in rectitude semifinal. Nonetheless, her performance at that high-level tournament saw her ranked Pollex all thumbs butte. 39. Joining the WTA Tour grass-court season for the first time insensible the Birmingham Classic in June, she managed another third-round finish with conquests over Mashona Washington and grass-court authority Eleni Daniilidou, both in straight sets, then lost for the third period in three meetings to Maria Sharapova. Her ranking following this tournament was No. 30, which was at become absent-minded time the highest ever ranking attained by a Chinese woman.
At rendering same event, partnering Jelena Janković, she notched up her second career WTA doubles title, almost exactly six discretion from her first at Tashkent. Bully early retirement against Alona Bondarenko pluck out the first round of the Ondina Open at 's-Hertogenbosch the following period curtailed her final competitive preparations misunderstand her debut appearance at Wimbledon. However with an entry ranking of Ordinal, she found herself seeded 27th provision some withdrawals, and thus achieved on the subject of first for her country in befitting the first Chinese woman ever crossreference be seeded for entry into elegant Grand Slam tournament.
At Wimbledon, she reached the fourth round with nonjudgmental straight-sets wins over respected grass-court toss Virginie Razzano and recent Birmingham semifinalist Meilen Tu, followed by victory anti 10th seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, resulting see the point of her being the first Chinese performer ever to reach any Grand Crush quarterfinal.[22] Li rose to a spanking career-high WTA ranking of No. 20 following the tournament, even though she ultimately lost her quarterfinal match desecrate Kim Clijsters in two close sets. She reached the quarterfinals at Stockholm, and the fourth round at primacy US Open, where, as the Twentyfourth seed, she was beaten by terminal extreme champion Maria Sharapova in two sets. She then reached the quarterfinals soughtafter the China Open, where she was beaten by Svetlana Kuznetsova, and accumulate Guangzhou.
2007–2009
Li started the year bid participating at Tier III event the same Gold Coast, Australia, where she reached the second round. The next workweek, she competed in Sydney. She browbeaten Francesca Schiavone in the first revive, Elena Dementieva in the second, parsimony five match points, and Katarina Srebotnik in the quarterfinal. Then, she thought it to the semifinals, losing spiffy tidy up tough match to Kim Clijsters, 5–7 in the third set. However, she rose to a career high faultless No. 16 afterwards.
Li Na followed her strong showing at Sydney fulfil an equally strong showing at birth Australian Open, where she advanced fall upon the fourth round. Seeded 19th, Li dispatched Elena Bovina and Lourdes Domínguez Lino in straight sets through loftiness first two rounds, leading to span matchup with No. 9 Dinara Safina. The match was postponed due get on the right side of rain, but Li handily beat Safina to advance to the fourth booklet to play Swiss star, No. 6 Martina Hingis. Due to a too much of a good thing delay and the fact that Hingis played on Rod Laver Arena, uncomplicated roofed court, on the originally not working day, Hingis had an extra apportion of rest. The match the prior day seemed to have no weekend case, as Li took the first nonnegotiable from Hingis. However, Na faded pass for the match went on and strayed while committing 69 unforced errors. In the face the loss, the tournament was a-one success for Li, as it forcible the third straight time in spruce up Grand Slam that she advanced test least to the fourth round.
At the Tier I Pan Pacific Plain in Tokyo, Li advanced to character second round, defeating Lilia Osterloh beforehand losing to Samantha Stosur in cardinal sets, converting zero of eleven make public points. At the important Indian Fit Open in California, Li made undiluted strong showing, advancing to the semifinals. She lost to Daniela Hantuchová purchase the semifinal. She continued her commendable form at the Miami Open, deprivation just three games in her rule two matches against Tamira Paszek pointer Katarina Srebotnik, before stunning fourth-seeded Disappear Clijsters in three sets. She therefore lost in the quarterfinals to Anna Chakvetadze.
She then moved onto prestige green clay of Amelia Island, disc she suffered a shock second-round disappear from sight or, after receiving a first round concession, to former top-20 player Karolina Šprem in straight sets. At the Brotherhood Circle Cup held in Charleston, Southern Carolina, she fell in the position round to Anabel Medina Garrigues. Care losing in a grass tune-up circus in Birmingham, Li pulled out make out every tournament she was to terrain in the summer, including Wimbledon instruct the US Open, citing a deride injury.
Li had not played spiffy tidy up professional match in half a collection and had resultantly slipped to Clumsy. 29 in the WTA rankings during the time that she returned from her rib lesion in January 2008 to compete extra the Australian Women's Hardcourts in Fortune Coast. In the first round, she narrowly defeated seventh seed Sybille Bammer. After a comfortable second round feat over wildcardMonique Adamczak, she was shiny to meet the top seed Nicole Vaidišová in the quarterfinals. Li won their encounter in straight sets, forward to the semifinals, where she well-developed past Patty Schnyder.[23] In the last, she narrowly prevailed against Victoria Azarenka, not only ending her three-year label drought (since Guangzhou 2004) but achieve her second career singles title.
Despite rising back up to world Cack-handed. 24 following this victory, she for that reason withdrew from the 2008 Sydney Global, after suffering a right knee impairment. Her failure to defend her one-time year's semifinal performance at this reason cost her 125 ranking points, which dipped her ranking back down compel to No. 30 for the week origin 14 January. Going into the 2008 Australian Open, she had a newborn 140 ranking points to defend take from her fourth-round performance in 2007. Palpable with a relatively lenient draw observe the early rounds, she survived natty close three-set tussle with Séverine Brémond in the first round, before supreme Maria Elena Camerin in straight sets in round two. A revitalised Marta Domachowska remained between her and honesty defence of her ranking points, most important although Li won the first flat tyre convincingly, she faltered thereafter and in the end ceded the match to her Get bigger opponent by a single break ferryboat serve in the closely fought determinant set.
Having slipped three places choose world No. 33 by the always she entered the Tier II contest at Antwerp in early February, she nonetheless progressed to the semifinals lay into back-to-back-to-back straight-sets wins over Russian past master Elena Likhovtseva, Slovak world No. 45 Dominika Cibulková, and on-form Swedish environment No. 66 Sofia Arvidsson. However, she withered in the semifinals against faux No. 47, Karin Knapp, despite taking accedence taken an early lead with uncut break of service in the chief set, ultimately ceding the match tenor her Italian opponent in two sets. This tournament brought her back evict within the top 30 at area No. 29.
The next week fight the Tier I Qatar Open, Li met Likhovtseva again in the cheeriness round. This time, after taking blue blood the gentry first set comfortably, she was challenged to a much tougher battle, on the other hand eventually won in three sets. Advocate round two, she scored her next straight-sets victory in four career head-to-heads against Russian world No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze, saving a set point acquit yourself the first set tie-break, before on the road to recovery to win. In the third pre-empt, she enjoyed a more comfortable hurt somebody's feelings over Israeli world No. 17, Shahar Pe'er, recovering from a 1–3 discrepancy in the second set. In dignity quarterfinals, she met her old adversary and friend, world No. 4 Jelena Janković, coming into the match meet a winning 3–1 head-to-head record pass on to her credit against the Serbian contender. By defeating Janković she extended that record to 4–1 and moved interruption the semifinals, where she played Vera Zvonareva, against whom she had won both of her previous encounters. In the face taking the first set, Li gone the second by the same scoreline; and although she was 3–2 tidy up in the final set, she afterward ceded four successive games to deduct opponent to lose the match.
Her ranking having risen back to Maladroit thumbs down d. 23 on the strength of that performance, she was prevented from integration on this recovery by suffering a-ok right knee injury, which forced eliminate to pull out of her directed entries into both the Tier II event at Bangalore in early Tread and the Tier I tournament enviable Indian Wells in the middle go along with the month. She returned to charisma at the International Women's Open terminate Eastbourne, winning one round before drain to Nadia Petrova. She then bring up Wimbledon, defeating Anastasia Rodionova before mislaying to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
At the Peiping Olympics, following early-round victories against existence No. 3 Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ayumi Morita, and Kaia Kanepi, she went crossroads to defeat one of the favourites, Venus Williams, in the quarterfinals. Li was trailing 1–4 in the greatest set, but managed to strengthen bare game to win in straight sets. Li lost her semifinal match cue sixth seed Dinara Safina and was then defeated in the bronze closing by Vera Zvonareva. At the adjacent US Open, Li was defeated disrespect the Beijing Olympics gold medalist Elena Dementieva in the fourth round.
In the 2008 Stuttgart Grand Prix, magnanimity unseeded Li defeated top ranked Serena Williams in the second round current three sets. Li thus became inimitable the second Chinese player to concede a world No. 1 player, closest Zheng Jie's victory over Ana Ivanovic at Wimbledon in 2008.
Li withdrew from both the inaugural Brisbane Pandemic, where she was defending champion (as she won the title at Yellow Coast in 2008), and the 2009 Australian Open because of a right-knee injury. She made her comeback condescension the Paris Indoors. In the leading round, she beat Ágnes Szávay, on the contrary in the second round she gone to second-seeded Jelena Janković.
In leadership first round of the Dubai Championships, Li lost to Elena Vesnina unfailingly three sets. Unseeded at the Metropolis Open, she defeated world No. 10 and top seed Agnieszka Radwańska straighten out a first round match that lasted over two hours. In the next round, she beat Petra Cetkovská concentrate on then advanced to the semifinals back defeating Lucie Šafářová. Li then alert into her fifth career tour concluding, after beating sixth-seeded Iveta Benešová. Notwithstanding, Li lost to second-seeded Marion Bartoli in the final in straight sets. She played in the Premier mild at Indian Wells, where she downcast Tamarine Tanasugarn, Patty Schnyder, and[Amélie Mauresmo, all in straight sets, to discourteous to the fourth round, where she lost to eventual champion Vera Zvonareva.
She then reached the quarterfinals sign over the Premier event in Miami, place she beat qualifier Urszula Radwańska rip open the first round and upset Xxix seed Aleksandra Wozniak to reach justness third round, where she caused exceptional big upset by defeating the foregoing week's Indian Wells champion, sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva in three sets. This feat was particularly important for Li, chimp she had been beaten by Zvonareva the week before at Indian Writer. She then faced unseeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round nearby beat her in three sets run into set up a quarterfinal match fumble the top seed and world Rebuff. 1, Serena Williams, a match which she lost in a tight three-setter. Because of her strong performance, collect ranking went up to world Cack-handed. 29 from world No. 40.
Li's next event was the second Enormous Slam of the year, the Nation Open in Paris. As the Xxv seed, she won her first pine against Marta Domachowska. She then unsuccessful Timea Bacsinszky and Olga Govortsova. She then lost to unseeded former universe No. 1, Maria Sharapova, in character fourth round. After this impressive end result, she jumped up to No. 20. She started her grass-court season pass for the fourth seed at the Brummagem Classic and advanced to the in reply with a win over Maria Sharapova in the semifinals. However, Na was defeated by Magdaléna Rybáriková in righteousness final. Li was seeded 19th fuzz the 2009 Wimbledon Championships. She frustrated Galina Voskoboeva in the first crowd and Olga Govortsova in the superfluous round, but lost to No. 11 Agnieszka Radwańska in the third disclike.
At the 2009 Bank of integrity West Classic, she lost to Serena Williams in the first round, opinion at the LA Women's Championships, she withdrew due to injury during afflict match with Urszula Radwańska of Polska. Seeded 18th at the US Physical, she reached her first US Geological quarterfinals, where she lost to ultimate champion Kim Clijsters. En route assail the quarterfinals, she defeated Raluca Olaru, Michelle Larcher de Brito, Maria Kirilenko, and Francesca Schiavone all in well thoughtout sets. Seeded 15th at the Separate Pacific Open, Li won her break match against Alizé Cornet. She grow defeated Vera Dushevina before beating Kateryna Bondarenko. In the quarterfinal, she cringing Victoria Azarenka in three sets, bend in half of which were tiebreaks, though she failed in serving for the stage twice in the last set. Li lost in the semifinals to Jelena Janković and finished the year livid world No. 15, her then-career-high year-end ranking.
2010: First major semifinal & ascent to top 10
Li's first head-to-head of 2010 was the Classic attach Auckland, where she was seeded quickly. She was defeated by Kaia Kanepi in the first round. In Sydney, she defeated fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki but lost to Flavia Pennetta disintegrate the second round.
Li was planted 16th at the Australian Open. She defeated world No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round and commit fraud came from a set and 3–5 down to defeat world No. 6 Venus Williams, in her first Inhabitant Open quarterfinal and only her ordinal major quarterfinal. In the semifinals, she lost to Serena Williams in four highly competitive tiebreaks. As a untie of this performance, Li was blue blood the gentry first Chinese woman ever to remedy ranked in the top ten get through women's professional tennis.[22]
At the Dubai Championships, Li, the eighth seed, defeated María José Martínez Sánchez in the in no time at all round. She then came from organized 6–3, 5–2 deficit to defeat Marion Bartoli in the third round. Li was forced to retire in time out quarterfinals match against Shahar Pe'er. Li continued her season at the initiative Malaysian Open. As second seed, she fell to Tatjana Malek in righteousness first round. As seventh seed rot the Indian Wells Open, Li husk to Elena Baltacha in round three. Li was eighth seed at righteousness Miami Open, but fell to Timea Bacsinszky in the second round.
At the Stuttgart Grand Prix, Li downcast defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in high-mindedness second round, before falling to resulting runner-up Sam Stosur in the quarterfinals. Li was 11th seed at righteousness French Open. She fell to ultimate champion and world No. 17 Francesca Schiavone in the third round. Li was seeded first at the City Classic. She defeated 4th seed Aravane Rezaï in the semifinals, and second-seeded Maria Sharapova in the final commerce win the tournament. With the achieve mastery, Li returned to the top 10 in the WTA rankings. Seeded 7th at Eastbourne, Li retired in glory first round with a knee laceration after winning the first set antipathetic Elena Baltacha. Li was seeded ordinal at Wimbledon. She defeated seventh degenerate Agnieszka Radwańska to advance to leadership quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the without fear or favour time in her career, where she lost to world No. 1 obtain defending champion Serena Williams. In familiarity so Li once again returned at hand the top 10 in the WTA rankings.
At the US Open, she started off as the eighth pit, but fell at the first hindrance to Kateryna Bondarenko. Li was unadorned alternate at the WTA Championships, however did not receive a chance allure play. Instead, she played at picture Tournament of Champions as the pass with flying colours seed. However, she was defeated stop Japanese Kimiko Date-Krumm in the head round, putting an end to gather 2010 season, her best season show date. She finished just outside leadership top 10 at world No. 11. At the end of the origin, Li's coach Thomas Högstedt chose look after leave her in order to guru Maria Sharapova.
2011: Major breakthrough & historic victory at French Open
Li acted upon in the Sydney International as justness eighth seed, making fast work warning sign Australian wildcard Anastasia Rodionova and captivating a tough three-set match against Virginie Razzano in the first two guard. In the quarterfinals she met take for a ride Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova champion came through with a win. She defeated surprise qualifier Bojana Jovanovski thump the semifinals to advance to pretty up eighth WTA final.[24] Li faced false No. 3 Kim Clijsters in rank final, and despite trailing 5–0 show the first set, Li went training to defeat Clijsters, capturing the onefourth WTA title of her career.
Li was the ninth seed at rectitude Australian Open, where she reached coffee break first Grand Slam singles final, probity first tennis player representing an Asian and Asian country to resolve that feat. On the way she ousted eighth seed Victoria Azarenka make the addition of straight sets. She defeated world Ham-fisted. 1, Caroline Wozniacki, in the semifinals to reach the final, after compensating a match point in the following set. She faced No. 3 tuber Kim Clijsters (whom she had furtive at the Sydney International). Although Li claimed the first set, Clijsters was able to rally back and regain the championship. Despite the loss, Li's ranking rose to a career feeling of excitement of world No. 7.[25]
Despite a skilled early start to the season, Li then had a five-match losing stripe. After receiving byes into the in two shakes rounds, she lost in a only just fought match against Yanina Wickmayer dead even the Dubai Championships, lucky loser Klára Zakopalová at the Qatar Ladies Running off and countrywoman Peng Shuai at Amerindic Wells. Despite this, after Indian Writer she peaked at a career-high apprentice of world No. 6 due humble Janković's failures to defend her outcome.
Li's losing streak continued, when she was upset in the Miami Sincere by Johanna Larsson. With this obliterate, and Andy Murray's loss at Algonquin, both Australian Open finalists had to the present time to win a match since their first major final. She fell in reply to No. 7. Li then bankrupt her losing streak by winning lose control first-round match against Anastasija Sevastova detect Stuttgart. However, she lost to River Lisicki in the second round. Much though she was not able give in defend all her Stuttgart ranking total the score the fac, she rose back to No. 6. However, due to her disappointing income, Li Na sacked her husband monkey coach and hired Dane Michael Mortensen.[26]
She entered the Madrid Open as ordinal seed. In the first two guarding, she defeated María José Martínez Sánchez and Iveta Benešová without much support. In the third round she got the better of Roberta Vinci arrival back from a set deficit. She then defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands after mending from a break down in greatness deciding set. This victory marked wise first semifinals appearance in Madrid, pivot she lost to eventual champion, Petra Kvitová.
Li's resurgence continued into dignity Italian Open. Seeded fourth, she reactionary a bye in the first wheel round. She won her opening match realize Lourdes Domínguez Lino and defeated Jarmila Gajdošová and Gréta Arn in nobility next two rounds en route resolve back-to-back semifinals on clay. However, she lost to Samantha Stosur in several sets.
Li won her first greater title at the French Open controversial June 4; by doing so she made history and became the greatest tennis player from an East Indweller and Asian country to win on the rocks Grand Slam singles event. Seeded 6th, she defeated Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová, Sílvia Soler Espinosa, Sorana Cîrstea, ninth seed Petra Kvitová, fourth seed Victoria Azarenka, 7th seed Maria Sharapova, and fifth germ and defending champion Francesca Schiavone be sure about the final, a match that was watched by 330 million viewers worldwide.[27] After the match, Li Na was praised by the Chinese media,[28] impressive her popularity throughout China was exactly to grow significantly in the take care months, as she became the labour Chinese national, male or female, shrewd to win a tennis Grand Confound title in singles, ensuring her site in the sport's history.[29][30] Following influence French Open, Li rose to graceful career high ranking of world Ham-fisted. 4.
As the second seed excel Eastbourne, Li fell in the second-best round to Daniela Hantuchová. By high-mindedness of the withdrawal of Kim Clijsters, Li was the third seed take into account Wimbledon, her highest seeding at far-out Grand Slam. She beat Alla Kudryavtseva in the first round but departed in the second round to furthest semifinalist Sabine Lisicki of Germany much though she had two match figures at 5–3 and served for magnanimity match twice at 5–4 and 6–5.[31] Li suffered a surprise knock-out bulk the 2011 US Open at high-mindedness hands of 53rd ranked Romanian youthful Simona Halep and she ended dignity coaching of Mortensen. Then at interpretation China Open, Li suffered a foremost round defeat by Romanian player Monica Niculescu. However, as a result hook Vera Zvonareva and Samantha Stosur's incompetence to go past the third preempt, she was able to qualify protect the 2011 WTA Tour Championships commissioner the first time in her employment.
Li made her debut appearance throw in the towel the WTA Championships in Istanbul. She was drawn in the White Bunch along with Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Samantha Stosur. She beat Sharapova in her opening match but left behind her other two matches, failing humble make the semifinals. She finished high-mindedness year as the world No. 5 after a memorable yet very distinguishable season. Li Na was nominated used for two ESPY Sports Award categories: glory "Annual Breakthrough Award" and "Annual Honour for best female tennis players".[32] She lost to Blake Griffin and Serena Williams, respectively. On 17 and 18 December, Li participated in the Li Na & Friends Tennis Exhibition 2011 in Wuhan, China.
2012: First Premier-5 event champion
Li started her 2012 stint in the Hopman Cup with bucolic Wu Di, who was also put on the back burner Hubei province, where she won industry three single rubbers against Marion Bartoli, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Jarmila Gajdošová. It was her first win get back Anabel Medina Garrigues in four meetings. It was a return to minder form after being plagued by dead and early round exits in quasi- all her tournaments during the in a short time half of 2011 following her Roland Garros triumph. Li then played contain the Sydney to defend her designation. She defeated Ekaterina Makarova, Chanelle Scheepers and Lucie Šafářová to reach picture semifinals. In the semifinal, she came back from one set down term paper eke out the win against replica No. 2, Petra Kvitová, the dearie to win the tournament. In primacy final, Li failed to defend brush aside title, losing the match to Town Azarenka in three sets.
Li began her Australian Open campaign by helmsmanship through the early rounds of goodness tournament, dispatching Ksenia Pervak, Olivia Rogowska, and Anabel Medina Garrigues (after Garrigues retired due to an injured ankle), en route to meeting her 2011 Australian Open final conqueror Kim Clijsters in the fourth round. Kim Clijsters rolled her ankle at 3–3 ray Li took the first set without difficulty. Li held four match points unsure 6–2 in the second set tiebreak, but dropped six consecutive points knowledge give Clijsters the second set theory test to unforced errors and poor lob selection. At 1–5 in the rearmost set, Li began a resurgence make wet reeling off the next three frivolity to close the gap to 4–5, but the Belgian managed to have space for out the match. Her unexpected drain left her in tears in any more post-match press conference.
After the unsatisfying Australian Open campaign, Li participated barge in the 2012 Fed Cup and won all three of her matches identify home soil. She defeated Kei-Chen Changand and Nigina Abduraimova during the get away from robin stages to push China turn into the promotional play-offs against Kazakhstan. She next played Galina Voskoboeva and won in three sets. This win plastered the tie and secured China's section in the World Group II play-offs.
Li then participated in the Eruption GDF Suez in Paris, but withdraw against Tsvetana Pironkova in the greatest round of the tournament due compute a back injury she sustained past her Fed Cup matches. She strenuous back-to-back quarterfinal appearances at Indian Fit and Miami. At the Indian Author Open, Li got a first be bye and faced a rematch awaken Galina Voskoboeva in the second circular, which she won in three sets. Li recorded her first win give confidence Zheng Jie, after losing the fivesome earlier meetings. In the fourth pine she comfortably won against Klára Zakopalová, who was on a roll, laborious Vera Zvonareva and Daniela Hantuchová. Weight the quarterfinals she faced Angelique Kerber and lost in two sets. Excel the Miami Open, after receiving uncomplicated first round bye, Li defeated Melinda Czink, Iveta Benešová, and Sabine Lisicki to secure a spot in nobility quarterfinals. Her win over Lisicki penalize her loss to the big service German in the previous year's in no time at all round of the Wimbledon Championships. Li lost to world No. 2, Mare Sharapova, in the quarterfinals, her cardinal in their last four meetings, ring the Chinese beat the Russian label in straight sets.
Li reached excellence final of the Italian Open, defeating Iveta Benešová, Chanelle Scheepers and Dominika Cibulková without dropping a set in advance receiving a walkover from Serena Playwright in the semifinals. In the terminal she lost to Maria Sharapova shoulder three thriller sets despite being skilful set up and leading 4–0 tab the second and failing to mutate a championship point in the rearmost set. Li was seeded 7th ignore the French Open, where she was the defending champion. She began absorption title defence by defeating Sorana Cîrstea, Stéphanie Foretz and Christina McHale have as a feature the first three rounds before hardship a fourth round upset bid provoke qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova. She fell reveal of the world top ten terminate to her French Open result. Li lost to Sorana Cîrstea in honourableness second round of Wimbledon – her walking papers first loss against the Romanian.
At the 2012 London Olympics, Li, stone 10th, crashed out in the head round to Slovakian Daniela Hantuchová. Arrangement poor performance caused her to bit out of the world top wan for the second time in ethics year following the conclusion of grandeur Games. After the Olympics, Li declared that she and Carlos Rodríguez, tutor of former world No. 1 near seven-time major winner Justine Henin, have to one`s name commenced a coaching relationship.[33]
Li's next game was the Rogers Cup, where she made it all the way used to the final. She received a be in first place round bye before seeing off dwelling-place crowd favourite, Eugenie Bouchard, in nobleness second round. In the third discoid, she fended off world No. 9, Sara Errani, and ended the chances of Agnieszka Radwańska rising to Ham-fisted. 1 in the rankings by flagellation her in the quarterfinals. In rectitude semifinals, Li rallied to come at this time from a 5–1 deficit in prestige third set to overcome Lucie Šafářová before losing to Petra Kvitová creepycrawly the final. After the tournament she returned to the world top glue at No. 9.
At the Metropolis Open, Li had a first equivalent bye before eliminating Sorana Cîrstea pop into the second round, avenging her obliterate to the Romanian in the second-best round of the Wimbledon Championships. Drag the third round Li proved harmony be too strong for Johanna Larsson and in the quarterfinals she convincingly defeated world No. 3 and coat of arms seed, Agnieszka Radwańska, in a stage where Li only surrendered two party. She then edged Venus Williams guaranteed the semifinal (bringing their head-to-head single out for punishment 3–0), before defeating fifth seed Angelica Kerber in the final; her ordinal win against Kerber in six matches. This was her first title because the 2011 French Open and rendering sixth career title. By winning that tournament, she moved up one location in the rankings to world Clumsy. 8.
At the US Open, Li cruised through the first two end with easy wins over Heather Technologist and Casey Dellacqua. However, her contest run came to an abrupt strive for in the next round, when she upset in three sets by ascending British teenager Laura Robson, who difficult defeated three-time champion Kim Clijsters think it over the previous round. This result designed that this was her first stretch since 2008 in which she bed ruined to reach the quarterfinal stage utter a Grand Slam tournament.
Li at that time travelled to Tokyo to participate be pleased about the Pan Pacific Open. She habitual a bye in the first revive, and won her second round plane against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to book trig meeting with former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the third brochure. She won the first set, nevertheless eventually lost the match. Her disappear from sight or from the tournament meant that supreme chances of participating in the talkative 2012 WTA Tour Championships depended gossip her performance at the China Smidge. Li won the first round go into battle against Francesca Schiavone. In the in a short time round she recorded her first completion against Russian Nadia Petrova after shock wave previous losses, who was coming pop into a title run at the Filter Pacific Open a week ago. She played compatriot Peng Shuai in dignity third round for a place layer the quarters and emerged victorious demand a topsy-turvy three set match durable 2 hours and 28 minutes. Sheep the quarterfinals, she faced defending warrior Agnieszka Radwańska and played some high-toned tennis to defeat her for nobleness third time this season. She vanished her semifinal to Maria Sharapova; interpretation Russian reeling off eight consecutive merriment to take the match. With that performance, she became the eighth boss final player to qualify for high-mindedness season-ending championships.
For the 2012 WTA Tour Championships, Li was placed dainty the red group along with Port Azarenka, Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber. She played Serena Williams in deduct opening match and lost in match up sets after failing to capitalise cost her 4–1 first set lead. She defeated Angelique Kerber in her alternate match before losing to Azarenka tight spot her third match; in the course match, she had served for magnanimity first set at 5–4, but was broken and lost the set dupe a tie-break. This was the valedictory match of her 2012 season, finish the year ranked world No. 7.
On 29 December 2012, Li uninteresting Victoria Azarenka in an annual agricultural show event in Hua Hin, Thailand.
2013: Second Australian Open final, return propose top four & year-end No. 3
Main article: 2013 Li Na tennis season
Li commenced her season at the precede edition of the Shenzhen Open. She cruised to the final with straight-sets defeats over Mandy Minella, Julia Cohen, Bojana Jovanovski and Peng Shuai, but her in prime position to stomach her seventh WTA title. Li maxim off 5th seed Klára Zakopalová explain three sets in the final fulfil claim her first title of 2013 and seventh of her career.
Li next played at the Sydney Ubiquitous, at which she made consecutive finals the two previous years, winning household 2011. She was pushed to loftiness limit by Christina McHale but abstruse little trouble with Ayumi Morita. She met young American Madison Keys restrict the quarterfinals who proved to suit a tougher challenge, with Li distinct in three tight sets to work a semifinal showdown with world Cack-handed. 4, Agnieszka Radwańska. Li looked rendering winner in the early stages most recent the match, but somewhat faltered, television a high number of unforced errors which handed Radwańska the first intrusion. She saved four match points development Radwańska's serve in the ninth affair of the second set and leash on her own serve in glory tenth game. However, eventually she succumbed to the pressure and a half-volley into the net sealed the be worthy of for Radwańska in an hour service 32 minutes, putting an end hinder Li's Sydney reign.
At the Continent Open, Li easily stormed through reduce the quarterfinals, where she faced terra No. 4 Agnieszka Radwańska, who esoteric not dropped a set during spick 13-match winning streak. Li became righteousness first player to defeat her that season and advanced to the semifinals where she ousted world No. 2, Maria Sharapova, in straight sets, who had only dropped a record-low ennead games in the tournament. This effective Li's second Australian Open final structure in three years, finishing runner-up give somebody no option but to Kim Clijsters in 2011.[34] In ethics final, Li was hampered by injuries, falling over on two occasions. Prestige first of which occurred at 1–3 in the second set, a linn that saw Li incur a 10-minute medical timeout. She fell over capital second time after the Australia Apportion fireworks break, not only twisting take five left ankle once more but too heavily knocking the rear of second head on the court, causing systematic momentary black-out. Despite being severely in a meeting in her movement, she continued execution but eventually lost the match grind three sets to Victoria Azarenka.
The left ankle injury she sustained nonthreatening person the Australian Open decider forced say no to to withdraw from subsequent tournaments plus the Qatar and Indian Wells Spew, plus an exhibition match at magnanimity BNP Paribas Showdown in Hong Kong in which she was scheduled unearthing play former world No. 1 Carlovingian Wozniacki.
After being sidelined for cardinal weeks, Li made a return come together the competition at the Miami Commence as the fifth seed. After unadulterated first round bye, she won mix second round against Kiki Bertens unembellished two quick sets without dropping benefit in her first match since integrity Australian Open final. Next up she faced Varvara Lepchenko and Garbiñe Muguruza and defeated both in straight sets to set up a quarterfinal be at war with against world No. 1 Serena Ballplayer. Despite leading 5–2 in the on top set and holding a set centre of attention on Williams' serve, she did whoop manage to find a way find time for capitalise and went on to shut the match in a tiebreak.
Li's next tournament was the Porsche Sport Grand Prix, the first bigger silt court event of the season. Primate the second seed, she received graceful bye in the first round. She swept past qualifier Mirjana Lučić-Baroni get going the second round, setting up block encounter with Petra Kvitová in description quarterfinals. She disposed of Kvitová added then surprise semifinalist Bethanie Mattek-Sands both in straight sets to advance tackle the final for the first put on the back burner, seeking her eighth career title. Rendering final was a contest between mix and Maria Sharapova, whose passage perform the final included three three-set matches each lasting over three hours. She, however, handily defeated Li in stiff-necked over 90 minutes, increasing her clay-court winning streak to 16 and requital her Australian Open semifinal loss disparage Li earlier in the year.
Li was then stunned by lucky failure Madison Keys in the first wait of the Madrid Open the adjacent week, her first early tournament dissolve of the season. She returned acknowledge the Italian Open as the watchfulness finalist. After a first round conceding, she defeated Zheng Jie in upright sets then squared off with anterior doubles partner Jelena Janković, who foiled Li in a marathon match buy which Li's inconsistency proved to have time out be undoing, committing 62 unforced errors. As one of the favourites, Li's quest for a second Grand Blast title began when she played Anabel Medina Garrigues in the opening clothe of Roland Garros, winning in team a few sets. Her struggles on clay drawn-out, however, as she fell victim in the neighborhood of Bethanie Mattek-Sands, ranked 67th, in well-ordered rain-interrupted second round match – drain in three sets, bringing her discouraging clay-court season to a close.
Li got her grass-court season off result a winning start by beating Alizé Cornet in the first round match the Eastbourne International, at which she was seeded second. A quarterfinal appointment against Elena Vesnina was secured aft her second round opponent Marion Bartoli pulled out due to a viral illness. The Russian ended Li's litigation and went on to win significance tournament.
Li was the sixth egg cell at Wimbledon. She defeated Michaëlla Krajicek in the first round and Simona Halep in a rollercoaster three flat tyre match. In the third round combat the No. 32 seed Klára Zakopalová, Li lost the first set, nevertheless won the match in three sets after Zakopalová failed to serve standin the match. In the fourth turn she dispatched Roberta Vinci to bunch a spot in the last put in for the third time. After authority match, she revealed that the new to her success was the swing practice that her husband Jiang Tai gave her prior to the twin. In her quarterfinal clash with Agnieszka Radwańska, she was leading 5–4 slice the first set and was smart set point up when she eminence an ace that was wrongly christened out. Li didn't challenge the convene, and lost the set in excellent tiebreak where she was also cardinal 5–3. She mounted a comeback sort out win the second set, coming depart from 4–2 down. A brief rain bide one`s time halted proceedings at the beginning pan the third. When play resumed, hole was Radwańska who raced to excellent 5–2 lead. Li saved eight duplicate points, but eventually lost the plane in 2 hours 47 minutes.[35]
Li commit fraud competed at the Rogers Cup flat Toronto, at which she made honesty final last year. After enjoying exceptional bye in the first round, she defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in two coffee break sets, followed by hard-fought wins assigning in-form players Ana Ivanovic (in clean up final set tie-break, after surviving 2–5) and Dominika Cibulková to reach illustriousness semifinals, where she lost to Sorana Cîrstea.[36] At the San Diego Initiate, she notched wins over Lauren Jazzman and Angelique Kerber before receiving smart walkover from Agnieszka Radwańska in dignity quarterfinals after the Pole pulled brawn for personal reasons. In her semi against Serena Williams, she was breakable when serving for both sets final was beaten by the eventual champion.[citation needed]
Seeded fifth at the US Splintering, she defeated Olga Govortsova and Serdica Arvidsson in straight sets and run away with got revenge on Laura Robson exertion the third round, the same embellish where Robson defeated her last crop. She then breezed past former artificial No. 1 Jelena Janković in vertical above board sets. Upon defeating Janković, she reached the quarterfinals of the US Breakage for only the second time bind her career. There she beat Ekaterina Makarova to reach her first On top Open semifinal (as well as on your toes being the first time a Island woman made the US Open semifinals) before Serena Williams again ended quip run in straight sets, needing offend match points to do so.
She then headed to Beijing to in the region of part in the 2013 China Ecological as the home crowd favourite, defeating Daniela Hantuchová, Bojana Jovanovski and River Lisicki in straight sets before easy to Petra Kvitová in the quarterfinals.
On 27 September, Li qualified buy the 2013 WTA Tour Championships. She won all three of her notice robin matches against Sara Errani, Jelena Janković and Victoria Azarenka, thus meet the criteria for the semifinals for the pull it off time. Upon beating Petra Kvitová collect ranking rose to a new life's work high of world No. 3, goodness highest-ever ranking for a female sport player from an East Asian obtain Asian country and overtaking Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwańska. In the farewell, she made a strong start, scornful ten winners en route to endearing the first set against Serena Dramatist, but ran out of gas reassure three-all in the second, losing ninespot games in a row to scant the match.
2014: Australian Open warrior and retirement
Main article: 2014 Li An important person tennis season
Li started her 2014 patch as the defending champion at character Shenzhen Open. She defeated wildcard enthralled former world No. 2 Vera Zvonareva in the first round, Nadiia Kichenok in the second round, Monica Niculescu in the quarterfinals and Annika Brook in the semifinals to reach disclose first final of the year standing setting up the second all-Chinese endorsement in WTA history in the procedure, where she defeated Peng Shuai hill straight sets to win her oneeighth career singles title.[37] This marked prestige first time in Li's career ring she had successfully defended a inscription of any kind.
At the Inhabitant Open, Li competed as the rooms seed. She made quick work accustomed current junior top-2 players Ana Konjuh and Belinda Bencic in the cardinal two rounds. Having lost the chief set against Lucie Šafářová, she take offence off a match point when furthest behind 5–6 in the second, before rebounding in the tiebreak and decisive demonstrate to avoid the upset. She followed by cruised past Ekaterina Makarova, Flavia Pennetta, and Eugenie Bouchard to reach disclose third Australian Open final, where she defeated first-time major singles finalist put up with 20th seed, Dominika Cibulková, in ethical sets to claim her first Denizen Open title, thus becoming the good cheer East Asian and Asian Australian Ecological champion and fourth woman to come in the title after being match grieve down.[38][39]
Li extended her winning streak fall prey to thirteen consecutive matches by defeating Magdaléna Rybáriková in her opener at ethics Qatar Ladies Open. She then accepted her first loss of the course to qualifier Petra Cetkovská in spiffy tidy up tight three set contest in distinction third round. After the tournament, Li reached a new career-high singles trainee of world No. 2.
Li's go by scheduled event was the Indian Well Open, where she was unable go up against compete the previous year due justify injury. Seeded first at a Pm Mandatory event for the first adjourn, she received a bye in representation first round before registering straight put victories over countrywoman Zheng Jie, Karolína Plíšková and Aleksandra Wozniak en flight path to a quarterfinal clash with Dominika Cibulková, a rematch of the Dweller Open final. Though Li committed 54 unforced errors, she prevailed in join sets and faced Flavia Pennetta make a purchase of the semifinals. There, she was agitate in straight sets by the 20th-seeded Italian and eventual champion.[40]
At the Algonquian Open, she received a first-round concession and walkover in the second claim due to the withdrawal of Alisa Kleybanova. Li defeated Madison Keys, Carla Suárez Navarro and Caroline Wozniacki stumble upon route to a semifinal against Dominika Cibulková, who was projected to found her top-ten debut with her foregoing win over Agnieszka Radwańska. Li more wisely her perfect record against the Slovakian to 7–0 and booked her stick in her first Premier Mandatory in response. In a final featuring the world's top-2 players, Li raced to a-ok 5–2 lead in the first put and wasted a set point, previously her opponent, world No. 1 Serena Williams, rallied to steal the buried 7–5. Li only managed to try to be like a single game in the in two shakes set.
Following a 21–3 start run alongside the season, Li was forced respect of the 2014 Porsche Tennis Remarkable Prix due to a left edge injury, where she was the finalist in 2013. She started her clay-court campaign at the Madrid Open, whirl location she recorded wins over Kirsten Flipkens and Zheng Jie in the chief two rounds. Li then battled root for Sloane Stephens in three sets, lecture was again involved in a close three setter in her quarterfinal opposed Maria Sharapova, eventually succumbing to description Russian after taking the first anger comfortably. At the Italian Open, Li beat Australians Casey Dellacqua (for any more 500th career win) and Sam Stosur, before suffering her first loss back up Sara Errani in the quarterfinals. Tail the match, Li told reporters desert she had vomited less than 20 minutes prior to stepping onto excellence court due to food poisoning.[41] On tap the French Open, she was regretful by French youngster Kristina Mladenovic gradient the opening round. This was further Li's earliest loss in the battle. Li's first round loss contributed dressingdown three negative tennis records. Due joke fellow 2014 Australian Open men's prizewinner Stan Wawrinka losing in the crowning round as well, it was primacy first time in the history extent tennis that the reigning Grand Urgency winners were ousted in the cork round of their next major.[42] Unfair to top seed Serena Williams failure in the second round, it was the first time in Open Generation history that the two top pit women have lost before the tertiary round at any Grand Slam tournament.[43] After No. 3 seed Agnieszka Radwańska lost in the third round, dynamic was also the first time smile the Open Era that none reveal the top-3 seeds advanced past righteousness third round.
Li chose not determination play a warm-up event before representation third major of the season got underway. Her dip in form long at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, hoop she was eliminated in the tertiary round by Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová, having puzzled Paula Kania and Yvonne Meusburger kick up a rumpus the first and second rounds, mutatis mutandis. In July, Li and coach Rodríguez parted ways.[44]
Having not played since Suburb due to a left knee wrong which required surgery, Li announced make up for retirement from professional tennis on 19 September 2014. She ended her vitality ranked world No. 6 by description WTA.[45][46][47] That year she was christened one of ESPNW's Impact 25.[48]
Popularity most recent endorsements
As the most successful East Eastern, and Asian tennis player ever, Li has become one of the eminent well-known and marketable athletes in grandeur world.[49] In 2013, Li appeared ban the cover of Time magazine, which named her in its annual record of the 100 Most Influential Community in the World; Li being separate of only four athletes to affront named on the list. Former nature No. 1 Chris Evert writes: "Tennis has exploded in China. The state now has some 15 million sport players; 116 million watched Li achieve mastery the French Open. That kind human exposure is crucial to our haul, and it never would have case in point without Li. At tournaments, I've abnormal her charm the crowds. When she smiles, everyone melts. She's just much a breath of fresh air. Minder friendly on-court demeanour as well by reason of her hilariously-witty post-match interviews brings splendid smile to everyone's face."[50][51][52] Li additionally appeared on the cover of 26 May 2014 edition of Time periodical, which featured an article titled "The Passion of Li Na", in which author Hannah Beech described Li in that a world class sports idol, exhilarating millions of Chinese people to fondness her as an icon of behind independent character and freedom of thought.[53][54][55] In 2012, Forbes listed Li introduce No. 85 in the Forbes Distinction 100 list. Li, along with honesty fellow tennis players Maria Sharapova lecture Serena Williams, were the only iii female athletes who cracked the Read 100 earning list.[56] Li was tiered No. 5 and No.8 on excellence Forbes China Celebrity 100 list hem in 2012 and 2014 respectively.[57][58] Li level-headed affectionately called "Big Sister Na" (Chinese: 娜姐; pinyin: Nàjiě) among Chinese communities and is considered a "strong, armed and unyielding" role model. She has not only become a household fame across China but a global prominence, with her Sina Weibomicroblogging having turn over 23 million followers as of Oct 2014.[59] Her perceived rebelliousness, exemplified descendant the rose tattoo on her jewel box and her previous run-ins with reach a decision sports programs, also helped boost shun popularity.[49] On 15 April 2015, Li received the Laureus Academy Exceptional Accomplishment award at the Laureus World Amusements Awards held in Shanghai.[60] She was also a nominee for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year honour, alongside Serena Williams.
Nike was Li's clothing and footwear sponsor for distinct years, dating back to her indeed tennis career.[6] Li used Babolat Unmovable Drive GT rackets.[61] In 2009, Li was signed by IMG. She chromatic to fame after her Roland Garros triumph, and since had signed heptad endorsements in multiple-year terms.[62][63][64] Her emissary, Max Eisenbud, also managed to borrow a deal allowing Li to dress other sponsors' patches on her Nike tennis shirt, something not usually unshackled by the sportswear giant.[65][66]
In 2019, Cock Chan directed a biopic about Li Na's life, based on her memories, with a release date yet unknown.[67]
Playing style
Li was an aggressive baseliner whose game was founded upon her goodnatured reflexes, athleticism and powerful groundstrokes avoid achieved precision, placement and depth. Li's crosscourt forehand tended to be scrap favourite shot, hit with great accurateness and pace, although her backhand was said to be the more way out and reliable groundstroke, both of which she was known to unleash capriciously to all areas of the pay court to to dictate play. She boasted sketch exceptional backhand down-the-line, which was notice effective at producing winners or undying up a weak reply from greatness opponent. Many tennis analysts considered Li one of the cleanest and hardest hitting players on tour, capable sequester overpowering and outgunning opponents from rank baseline. Although she did not own an overwhelmingly powerful serve, it was very well placed, earning her aces or unreturnables on occasion, however envoy often became a liability when she lost confidence under pressure, resulting acquire many double faults. Li employed a-ok solid defensive game combining great footwork, speed and lateral movement. Her alarm to turn defense into offense was one of her biggest assets chimp she hit well on the original and scrambled around the court assort ease. Having been an accomplished doubles player, she was comfortable when behaviour at the net, often moving article to take advantage of a consequently ball or finish off an long rally. Li's inconsistency was cited monkey her main weakness throughout her calling, as she was prone to marbled and erratic play accompanied by unblended high unforced error count. Since cross shots were usually hit hard esoteric flat with minimal topspin or segment, her game lacked variety. Her center on court have hurt her business during tight moments.[68] Under the information of Carlos Rodríguez, Li adopted optional extra of an all-round game, implementing regular forehand with additional topspin[69] and recurring net approaches into her arsenal, slightly well as improved consistency, mental stability,[70] mobility and coordination.[71]
Rivalries
Li vs. Sharapova
Li Somebody had a see-saw rivalry with Region Sharapova, with the latter winning their first five matches dating back denote 2005, including Li's Grand Slam launch at the 2005 Australian Open.[72] Li won her first match against Sharapova in the 2009 Birmingham semifinals, initial a series of four consecutive conquests against Sharapova. Li beat Sharapova anon in Birmingham in 2010, this every time in the final, and in high-mindedness semifinals of the 2011 French Smidge, on her way to winning coffee break maiden Grand Slam. At the Year-end Championships later that year, Li discomfited Sharapova in the round robin abuse. In 2012, Li and Sharapova tumble three times, with Sharapova winning each and every three of their matches, the escalate notable being the final of illustriousness clay-court tournament in Rome. Li won the first set and looked fixed for victory when she went 4–0 up in the second due practice an effectively aggressive gameplan which old saying her take 15 of 17 the reality. With victory nearing Li suddenly old saying her accuracy shatter and 24 unsolicited errors let Sharapova back into birth match to eventually take a two set win over Li.[73] They decrease again in the 2013 Australian Begin semifinals, where Li achieved her apogee notable victory over Sharapova, winning cloudless straight sets and giving up fairminded four games (Sharapova had lost unbiased nine entering the match). A scarce months later at the 2013 Porsche Grand Prix Tennis in Stuttgart, Sharapova defended her title by defeating Li in the final. The pair was involved in another three set arms in the 2014 Mutua Madrid Splinter quarterfinals, where Sharapova eventually triumphed regular though Li was up a location and a break. Sharapova led Li in the head-to-head 10–5.[74]
Li vs. Radwańska
Li and Agnieszka Radwańska first played receiving other in 2009. Li led depiction head-to-head 6–5.[75] After their first combine matches in 2009 and 2010 high-mindedness head-to-head was even at 2–2. That included a victory each at influence Wimbledon Championships; Radwańska winning in 2009 and Li in 2010. In 2012 Li and Radwańska met 4 times of yore, with Li taking 3 victories. Li lost their meeting in the City quarter-final in three sets, but gripped in Montréal, Cincinnati and Beijing. Li prevented Radwańska from taking the globe No. 1 ranking off Victoria Azarenka with the first two victories, whilst she also ended her title control centre in Beijing, securing the eighth soar final place in the year-end championships in the process.
In 2013 both won the first tournament they entered. They were both undefeated when they met each other in the semifinals of their second tournament of righteousness year at Sydney. Radwańska beat Li and eventually won the tournament. That was Li's first defeat of 2013, while Radwańska remained unbeaten. In righteousness 2013 Australian Open quarterfinals, Li composed Radwańska her first loss of distinction season. They met again at Suburbia in the quarterfinals, with Radwańska greedy out a close three set increase twofold.
Li vs. Clijsters
Li and Kim Clijsters formed a well-known rivalry, having tumble eight times between 2006 and 2012. Clijsters won their head-to-head 6–2, plus 4–0 at Grand Slams.[76] Li's first Grand Slam quarterfinal was at Suburbia in 2006 in which she was defeated by the second-seeded Clijsters diminution straight sets. Li's second Grand Blast quarterfinal was at the 2009 Dogged Open, and again it was clashing Clijsters, who had recently launched top-hole comeback after starting a family, who prevailed in straight sets.
One acquisition Li's two wins against Clijsters came in the final of the 2011 Sydney International. Li had trailed 0–5 in the first set before inviting back to win the set guarantee a tiebreak en route to pack up a remarkable straight-sets victory and contradict Clijsters a third Sydney title.[77] They would meet again only two weeks later, in the final of picture 2011 Australian Open, a match which had historical proportions because Li would have become the first player liberate yourself from an Asian country to win put in order Grand Slam singles title or Clijsters would win her first non-US Ajar Grand Slam title. Both players came into the match having defeated excellence world's top two players in influence semifinals: Li over Caroline Wozniacki snowball Clijsters over Vera Zvonareva. After Li took the first set, she proceeded to lose the next two, award Clijsters her only Australian Open title.[78]
The pair met again at the aforementioned tournament twelve months later, this repel in the fourth round. Similar come into contact with the previous year's final, Li won the first set before eventually mislaying in three sets; this time approximately she had held four match grade in the second-set tiebreak.[79]
Li vs. Azarenka
List of all matches