Li Na: The Asian tennis icon who inspired Emma Raducanu

Few players have ever had more of an impact on the game of tennis than Li Na. 

The Chinese star is a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, a former world number two and a nine-time winner on the WTA Tour. 

And while these statistics alone do not compare with the likes of Serena Williams or Steffi Graf, Na became a trailblazer for future tennis stars in Asia –– establishing herself as one of the most well-known and marketable athletes on the planet. 

In 2019, Na was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, alongside the other greats of the sport. 

Here’s how the rebellious, yet remarkable tennis star helped inspire a generation. 

Despite turning professional in 1999, Na did not experience immediate success on the WTA Tour. 

With the likes of Martina Hingis, Justine Henin and the Williams sisters dominating the circuit, Na won just two titles between 1999 and 2010. 

However, something clicked in 2010 when she reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open and the Chinese star never looked back after that. 

Between 2011 and 2014, Na reached two major semi-finals, two finals and won two Grand Slam titles. 

The first, which came at the 2011 French Open, made her the first ever Grand Slam singles champion from Asia, while the second came at the 2014 Australian Open. 

Na also reached the semi-finals of her home Olympics in Beijing in 2008, as the final of the WTA Finals in 2013. 

In February 2014, she reached a career ranking of second but was eventually forced to retire later that year after requiring knee surgery. 

As the most successful player in Asian tennis history, Na soon became a sponsor’s dream and was flooded with endorsement deals. 

At one stage in 2012, she was reportedly earning more