Li Na
A trailblazing Chinese tennis player who smashed continental barriers, winning Grand Slam titles with powerful groundstrokes and a famously dry wit.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Chinese tennis player·Birthday: February 26·Millennials
Biography
Li Na didn't just play tennis; she rewrote the script for Asian athletes in a global individual sport. Initially a product of China's state-run system, her career took flight after she negotiated the right to manage her own schedule and keep more of her earnings—a move as revolutionary as her playing style. With a ferocious forehand and relentless aggression, she powered past more polished opponents. Her breakthrough at the 2011 French Open sent shockwaves worldwide, making her the first Asian-born player to win a major singles title. She solidified her status with a second Slam at the 2014 Australian Open, defeating a field of champions. Off the court, her humorous and candid press conferences, often poking fun at her husband and coach, made her a relatable international star. Li Na's success ignited a tennis boom in China and proved that a player from her country could dominate on the world's biggest stages.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Li was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Li Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Li's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first tennis player from Asia to win a Grand Slam singles title at the 2011 French Open.
- Won a second major at the 2014 Australian Open, defeating Dominika Cibulková in the final.
- Achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 2 in February 2014.
- Her 2011 French Open victory was watched by an estimated 116 million viewers in China alone.
Did You Know?
She famously thanked her husband in victory speeches for being 'a nice guy' and for 'fixing the drinks, fixing the rackets'.
Before major matches, she would have a Chinese character for 'calm' or 'tranquility' sharpied onto her inner wrist by her physio.
She retired from professional tennis in 2014 via a heartfelt post on social media platform Weibo.
“If you cheat on the court, you cheat in life.”
