Li Na

Li Na is a Chinese former professional tennis player who was ranked World No. 2 in women's singles and is the first major singles champion from Asia, male or female.

She won nine WTA Tour-level singles titles, including two majors at the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014.

Player Profile

Li Na was born on February 26, 1982, in Wuhan, Hubei, China. She stands 172 cm tall and she plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand. She attended Huazhong University of Science and Technology, where she earned a B.A. degree.

Professional Career

Li Na turned professional in 1999, though she took a two-year break from the sport from April 2002 to May 2004. She is widely considered a trailblazer for Chinese tennis, and was the first Chinese player to achieve a number of milestones. She won her first WTA Tour title at the Guangzhou International Women's Open in 2004, and later became the first Chinese player to reach a major singles quarterfinal, a major singles final, and to break into the world's top ten.

Her defining achievements were her two major singles titles, making her the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles championship. She won the French Open in 2011 and followed that with a victory at the Australian Open in 2014. Her successes also included runner-up finishes at the Australian Open in 2011 and 2013, and at the WTA Tour Championships in 2013. She reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 2 in February 2014.

By 2013, Li's accomplishments had made her the most successful Asian tennis player of her time, and she was included on Time Magazine's list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."

She retired from professional tennis in September 2014 at the age of 32. In 2019, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, becoming the first Asian player to receive this honor.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 503–188
• Career titles: 9
• Highest ranking: No. 2 (February 17, 2014)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – W (2014)
• French Open – W (2011)
• Wimbledon – QF (2006, 2010, 2013)
• US Open – SF (2013)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• WTA Tour Championships – F (2013)
• Olympic Games – SF – 4th (2008)

Doubles

• Career record: 121–50
• Career titles: 2
• Highest ranking: No. 54 (August 28, 2006)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 2R (2006, 2007)
• French Open – 2R (2006, 2007)
• Wimbledon – 2R (2006)
• US Open – 3R (2005)