Celebrity Friday: Li Na On Cover Of Time Magazine

Li Na has been named as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine and chosen to be one of the 7 alternate covers for the special double issue of the news magazine. Chris Evert wrote the blurb about the 2011 French Open champion:

Li Na is a maverick. Who else would stand up to the centralized Chinese sports system as Li did, back in 2008, when she pushed for more control over her career? Li persuaded the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) to start the “fly alone” policy, which gives players more independence. Now they keep more of their money, giving just a fraction of their earnings to the CTA, compared with the bulk before. Rather than let the bureaucrats pick her coach, Li went with Jiang Shan, who is now her husband. Li has soared. She’s ranked fifth in the world and won the 2011 French Open, becoming the first Asian-born player to win a Grand Slam singles tournament.

Congratulations to Li Na!