Increasingly in the sports world, former – and even current – sports stars are taking ownership stakes in franchises. Could China be part of this growing trend?
Continue reading Sports stars are buying teams – even in China
Tag Archives: Serena Williams
Li Na’s withdrawal shows switch in priorities
The headlines about Li Na’s latest knee injury have centered on the fact that she will miss the US Open later this month, but the real story is about ensuring her legacy.
Continue reading Li Na’s withdrawal shows switch in priorities
李娜是中国网球一张永久的名片
有关李娜膝盖最新伤情的报道，媒体多集中在她将会错失今年8月底的美网公开赛。不过真正重要的还应该是如何将李娜的成就传承下去。而李娜显然也将家乡的比赛看的更为重要。
Continue reading 李娜是中国网球一张永久的名片
李娜依然难以企及小威的高度
在被幸运女神眷顾了三个月之后，中国网球“一姐”李娜2014年开年以来的好运最终走到了尽头。在今年的迈阿密索尼公开赛决赛之前，李娜的2014赛季已取得了21胜2负的骄人战绩。但是她的成功却建立在从未与世界前10交手的基础上，这不得不说是一件很奇特的事。不过，北京时间3月30日，李娜还是迎来了她本赛季第一位“世界前10”的对手，而这个人就是李娜此前已连负9次的世界第一——塞雷娜•威廉姆斯(小威廉姆斯)。
Li Na’s painful streak continues, Marbury wins 2nd CBA title
Li Na has probably never before been compared to the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, but there’s a first time for everything. Both are on losing streaks they just can’t do anything about.
Continue reading Li Na’s painful streak continues, Marbury wins 2nd CBA title
Media need Li Na more than they realize
Li Na has always had a strained relationship with the Chinese media – particularly the written press – who accuse her of being arrogant and disrespectful. But as this week’s Sports Talk column discusses, those media now need Li Na far more than she needs them, especially since she has already won over the global press with her Australian Open victory speech, and has a global profile that’s higher than ever given her rise to number 2 in the rankings. Here is an extract:
李娜和中国媒体，谁更需要谁
中国网球运动员李娜周日在自己的新书发布会上表示，自己还想再得一个大满贯冠军，并且登上世界第一的宝座。
Mixed fortunes for China at Australian Open
China had a record eight players in the singles draw for the Australian Open. Of the five who played on Day 1, there were wins for Li Na (vs 16-year-old Croatian Ana Konjuh) and Zheng Jie (vs 12th seed Roberta Vinci), while wildcard playoff winners Wu Di and Tang Haochen both lost, as did Zhang Shuai, who had ended 2013 so well.
Continue reading Mixed fortunes for China at Australian Open
China’s tennis growth is impressive – but stats are still wrong
The growth in women’s tennis has been one of the great China stories – in sport or elsewhere – in recent years. Li Na was the obvious catalyst, and in particular her 2011 French Open win, but much of the credit has to go to the WTA’s CEO, Stacey Allaster. This excellent profile by a former colleague of mine tells you everything you need to know about Allaster, who got the top job in women’s tennis in 2009. 
Continue reading China’s tennis growth is impressive – but stats are still wrong
Weekend round-up: Li Na, Guan, Rory all fall, Tiger’s in town, and Evergrande sitting pretty
Despite taking the first set 6-2, Li Na lost the final of the WTA Championships in Istanbul (the last before the end-of-season showpiece moves to Singapore next year), as world number one Serena Williams won the next two sets 6-3, 6-0. It was Serena’s 11th title of the year, and her 10th win in 11 games against Li Na, but after going into the game as a massive underdog, Li can be happy she at least forced a third set. Crucially, she now moves up to 3rd in the world rankings – a career high – by leapfrogging both Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska.
Remember the Taiwan-China controversy at Wimbledon a few months ago? Continue reading Weekend round-up: Li Na, Guan, Rory all fall, Tiger’s in town, and Evergrande sitting pretty