Li Na

Vital Stats

Born: February 26, 1982

Origin: Wuhan, Hubei, China

Height: 5′ 7 3/4″ (1.72 m)

Ethnic Background: Chinese

Field(s) of Endeavor: Tennis

Availability: Married

Lucky Bastards: Husband, Jiang Shan

Passed on Genes For Future Generations? No

0Low Point: She left tennis for almost two years in her early 20s after becoming dissatisfied with it.

Zombie’s First Course: A zombie having Chinese joke is too obvious.

Fantastic For: Tennis instructor for my daughter: Wimbledon Champ 2027. ‘Cause daddy wants some of that Venus and Serena dough.

Closest Modern or Retro Equivalent: She’s blazing a trail here.

Signature Outfit: Tennis gear

Why She’s Guy’s Gal:

Four snatching up the trophy for the championship of the French Open this past weekend, becoming the first Chinese and subsequently Asian player to win a Grand Slam title.  Li has achieved her career apex as a senior citizen in her sport (29), and with two Grand Slam finals appearances this year (she lost in the Australian open final to Kim Clijsters), looks to not be ready for retirement anytime soon.  Li is currently the fourth ranked player in the world, which is amazing, considering that almost a decade ago she quit tennis for a while.  Li’s hasn’t been one of those seeming overnight success stories at a young age like the Williams sisters or Maria Sharapova.  Li has steadily been building to this point, with over a decade on the WTA circuit.  She only cracked the WTA Top 20 for the first time in 2009, and finally the Top 10 just this year.

She’s also come back from several injuries in her career, including an ankle injury in 2005 and a rib injury in 2007.  Li is a baseliner who prefers hardcourts.  She enjoys Korean movies and her English is surprisingly good.  Li also has a habit of entering into doubles partnerships with former or current rivals , including Liu Nan-Nan, Nicole Pratt, Peng Shuai, Jelena Janković and Yan Zi.  She was a member of the 2008 Chinese Olympic team.  Li is a top athlete, the new French Open Champion and now she’s also our Gal.

Li Na Gallery: