Li Na listed on FT's Women of 2014

The Financial Times (FT), an leading UK-based publication focusing on international business and finance, recently selected its Women of 2014, a list that celebrates the extraordinary women who have made their mark — as leaders, campaigners and fighters — over the past year. This year's list told the individual inspirational stories of 18 women, among whom was Chinese tennis icon Li Na.

FT writes, "The Grand Slam winner is one of China's great sporting heroes. Now retiring, she is determined to coach the next generation to victory."

In an interview with FT conducted via e-mail, Li Na said, "Right now, we are in the very early stages of creating and building my [tennis] academy." The aim, she adds, is not just to train players, "but to give them a road map for establishing their own professional tennis careers. I want to teach them everything I've learnt in my 15-year career."

Li Na, born in 1982, is a former Chinese professional tennis player, who reached a career-best ranking of World No. 2 on the WTA Tour in 2013. In her career, Li won nine WTA singles titles, including two Grand Slam singles titles, at the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open.

After struggling to recover from a recurring knee surgery, Li decided she had no choice but to hang up her racket. She posted a letter online on September 19, 2014 announcing her retirement and two days later, on September 21, held a press conference in Beijing, where she waved a tearful farewell to professional tennis.