Tennis Looking For Next Big Chinese Players After Li Na's Retirement

LI NA’s "sudden retirement leaves women’s tennis struggling to find a new face in Asia," according to Danielle Rossingh of BLOOMBERG. Li, the region’s first Grand Slam singles champion, "was instrumental in expanding the game in China, where tennis participation doubled in the past five years." Coventry University Business School sports business professor SIMON CHADWICK said that "the 32-year-old’s departure 'places a huge emphasis on Chinese succession planning in tennis.'" Chadwick: "Just as the sport was gaining traction in China, it loses its biggest icon. The country now needs a new icon but while the country waits, Li Na needs to remain in the public eye and become an advocate and ambassador for Chinese tennis." For the past decade, Li "had been the face of tennis in the region." There are currently "more than 40 players from China with a ranking on the women’s WTA tour." Following Li’s exit, world No. 21 PENG SHUAI is the Chinese No. 1 (BLOOMBERG, 9/21).