Chinese Tennis Player Li Na – Unifying Cultures Across the Sporting World
While sport is best known for dividing groups and cultures, there are times when it unites alternative demographics through a mutual goal or aspiration. Take the example of Chinese tennis star Li Na, who has transcended her sport to serve as a role-model for young players in both Western and Eastern communities. This is no small achievement, especially when you consider the political divisions that exist within the world and how these have triggered wars, protests and significant social unrest.
How Li Na Continues a History of Influential Sports Stars
Of course, Li Na is not the first sports star to transcend her profession and serve as a global icon. Renowned figures such as David Beckham, Sir. Steve Redgrave and the incomparable Mohammed Ali have all trodden a similar path, by uniting conflicting cultures across the globe through their will, courage and sheer force of personality. Li Na simply continues this trend, as she contends with the unconditional love of her Chinese following and the undoubted admiration of tennis fans throughout the Western world.
Li Na is particularly popular in Britain, and there are a couple of key reasons for this. The first is that we can identify with a solo sporting start who carries a huge weight of expectation on their shoulders, as our own tennis star Andy Murray faced a similar challenge in his fraught and ultimately successful bid to win Wimbledon. Li Na faced a similar issue at the China Open, where she has yet to win despite the passionate local support that she receives. Us Brits also love charismatic and courageous underdogs like Li Na and to a lesser extent Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki, especially in a sport that is heavily dominated by a single player.
The Last Word
The difference between Li Na and Sabine Lisicki, however, is that the former bridges a cultural gap between two diametrically opposed sets of values and lifestyles. This affords her a unique place in the modern sporting world, as she has the capacity to educate both cultures on the ways of the other and help to develop mutual trust and understanding. As a recent article on WimbledonDebentureHolders.com recently suggested, this fun-loving and lavishly gifted woman has the potential to bring two entirely different cultures closer together, thanks primarily to her outgoing persona and the sheer force of her unbridled and child-like smile.
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Li Na has done a tremendous amount for all athletes across China. She use to play under the hold and umbrella of the Chinese Tennis Federation. As talented as she is, most of her earnings were reverted back to the Chinese Tennis Federation. Until one day, she decided to break free and insisted that she will train with whoever she pleases. That was when she hired Tommy Haas former coach when Tommy retired. This move had excelled her playing potential, thus winning the French and finalist in other majors. She had open the door for other Chinese athletes to have the ability to earn more money. Now she has become a spokes person for athletes around the world how hard work and pursuiting your dreams in becoming one of best can be a reality.
It was actually the China’s Tennis Association who “freed up” Li Na when they drew the conclusion that managing tennis players in the old way would result in nothing. Li Na was very lucky to be the first lady who took care of herself under the new policy, her natual gift took her to the top of the mountain.
I’d question Li Na’s decision on her last coaching change. She really should have won the Aussie Open, if it wasn’t for the coaching change. She use to be very aggressive and hit the ball flat and fast allowing her to take time away from her opponents. She use to put her opponents on the defensive. Since the coaching change, she is now spinning the ball and the balls are sitting up high for her opponents. This puts Li Na on the defensive now which her opponents are attacking and taking control of the ball. If she continue on this style of play, I truly doubt she will have another opportunity for one more major.