Li Na, 37, became the first tennis player from Asia to win a Grand Slam singles title, at the 2011 French Open. Brittainy Newman/The New York Times ...

Li started out as a badminton player, adept at the national sport, but was identified as a tennis prospect at age 9. She later entered the national system.

Li Na remembers first watching a tennis match on TV, drawn to the unforgettable style of one of the players. Andre Agassi had long hair, an earring and wore denim shorts, and made an instant fan ...

Li also won the 2014 Australian Open and rose to a career-high No. 2 in the world that same year, before quitting tennis in 2014 following a string of injuries. ... Li Na retired from tennis in 2014.

When Time Magazine unveiled its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013, nestled among icons from various fields was China's tennis sensation Li Na. Beyond her success on the ...

Li Na of China prepares to receive a serve from Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia during their women's singles final match at the Australian Open 2014 tennis tournament in Melbourne Jan. 25, 2014 ...

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- With Li Na in retirement and not defending her title at the Australian Open, there are far fewer Chinese flags and fans with red-and-yellow-streaked faces in the ...

Li Na, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Mary Pierce each won two major titles in Australia and Paris. (AP) He said, “No matter how much time I have been given to find a way to tell you about my Mary, it ...

Li Na is Asia’s only grand slam singles champion and one of the most famous Chinese athletes of all time. The 2014 Australian Open winner announced her retirement last September and, on Monday ...

Li Na may be one of China’s most influential sports stars but at home she is just like most parents, regularly being brought back down to earth by one of her children. The now 37-year-old Li has ...

Li has kept busy since her retirement — she has been traveling with her husband and making plans to open her own tennis academy in China, where she is credited with single-handedly boosting ...