Sometimes talent is not enough, there are times that obstacles get in the way so often that giving up might seem the only way out; but it is not. There is always another way to show off your talents, even if it is not on the way you thought it would be.
Li Na’s passion for tennis goes way back, it could be linked to the same passion that her father had for badminton. But that is not all, Li Na shared a strong bond with her father; they were very close and her father was always supportive. Sadly, same thing cannot be said about her mother, who always remained uninterested and away from her daughter’s love towards tennis.
Born in China in 1982, Na started practicing badminton when she was just six years old but, by the time she was eight years old, she decided to switch to tennis due to a suggestion from her instructor who was known for his hard teaching methods and negative reinforcement which had a big impact on Li’s confidence. The fact that Li Na’s father died when she was just 14 years old took a toll on her as well.
Despite everything Li was feeling after losing her father, she kept going. In 1997 she became a part of China’s National Tennis team and one year later on a Nike Sponsor she left for the USA to study tennis for ten months. In 1999 she went professional; Li won 2 Grand Slams and 16 other titles including an Olympic Bronze Medal during her career.
Li Na was the first Asian female tennis player to win the Australian Open in 2014 and thanks to her, tennis became a very popular sport in China. Sadly she announced her retirement during that same due to her ongoing problems with her injuries. In 2015 Li was honored with the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement award, prior to her being a part of Time’s most influential people in the world list in 2013.