I got a message out of the blue this week from Patrick McEnroe – the former US Davis Cup captain turned ESPN commentator and, yes, brother of John – to go on his Holding Court podcast to talk about tennis and China, plus everything in between. It was a lot of fun – you can find that episode here (and see the video clip below). Just days earlier, I had the chance to talk to Chinese F1 driver Zhou Guanyu on my own China Sports Insider Podcast – and he had a lot to say (full show blurb below). We also talked on the show about China losing its hosting rights to the 2023 Asian Cup – and see some of my comments I made on the topic to Reuters here.
Tag Archives: WTA
Peng Shuai’s “Statement” and What it Means for Tennis in China
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the podcast yet, I’d really suggest you check this one out (see embed below). The is the eighth one we’ve done and it’s the best one yet. For a start, there’s a LOT going on right now! The Peng Shuai saga has completely blown up everywhere (except for China of course, where it’s heavily censored), Zhou Guanyu is set to make history as China’s first F1 driver as he will partner Valtteri Bottas at Alfa Romeo next season, there’s been a dramatic reversal from the International Ice Hockey Federation which could still lead to China getting kicked out of the Olympics, and we talk to Rowan Simons – who’s been inside the Chinese soccer world for more than 25 years. Full blurb below:
Continue reading Peng Shuai’s “Statement” and What it Means for Tennis in China
Bending – and breaking – the rules in Chinese football
Here is today’s China Sports column for SupChina, which you can read in full here. Below is a summary of what went on this week.
Continue reading Bending – and breaking – the rules in Chinese football
Djokovic: Beijing’s pollution “slows ball down”
Remember a year ago when the smog in Beijing was so bad that Rafael Nadal nearly pulled out of the China Open tennis final, while golfers in the inaugural LPGA Reignwood Classic wore masks while they played?
This year during the National Week holiday the weather was generally kinder, though the weather did not go unnoticed. Check out these comments made by world number one Novak Djokovic:
Continue reading Djokovic: Beijing’s pollution “slows ball down”
孙杨将填补李娜退役留下的空白
当甚嚣尘上的李娜退役新闻趋于平淡，人们的目光转向了“谁能成为李娜的继任者？”这一问题，不仅仅是在网球领域，而是整个中国体坛。
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
Sam Pearson, WTA: The Exit Interview
Sam Pearson has spent the last eight years working in the Chinese sports industry, most recently in the role of Senior Manager, Marketing Solutions Asia Pacific for the WTA, after previous stints with Ruder Finn and OCEANS Sports Marketing . He returns home to Wellington, New Zealand, to take up a position as Regional Sales & Marketing Manager for the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015. Shortly before leaving China, Pearson spoke to China Sports Insider about the current state of the sports industry, as well as the changes he’s witnessed, the future of men’s and women’s tennis in China – and being linked to a tennis star in China’s gossip pages.
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