VivaTech takes the stage as the world's leading event for tech and startups
19 Jun 2023 18:33
On July 20, at the 2019 International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held in Newport, Rhode Island, USA retired Chinese tennis star Li Na was officially inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame, becoming the first Asian player to receive this honor.
Born in 1982 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, Li Na began playing tennis at the age of 8 and over her illustrious career won two Grand Slam Singles titles. When she won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open in 2011, nearly 116 million Chinese people watched the match. Her tennis achievements and personality helped the sport grow more popular in China. In 2014, Li Na announced her retirement from the sport.
According to the rules of the Tennis Hall of Fame, a player is only eligible for candidacy 5 years after retirement. Since the 2018 class were inducted, the voting process is now consisted of official Voting Groups, which are comprised of members of the tennis media, experts on the sport and history, current Hall of Famers, and a Fan Voting component, from which Li Na received the highest number of fan votes.
“We all know to make it into the Hall of Fame, you have to be an accomplished tennis player,” said Max Eisenbud, Li Na’s longtime agent who introduced her at the ceremony. “Li Na, you've been a great tennis player and an amazing champion. What I admire and I think most impressive about you is that you've been a true pioneer, not just for tennis, not just for women, but for all of China.
Reference: people.com.cn
Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick
Related coverage
Weekly Report: Federer VS Cilic ranked the 3rd place on the TOP 10 matches list
30 Jan 2018
2017 China Open kicks off with a record $9.41m in prize money
25 Sep 2017
06 Apr 2016
New logo releases and sponsor continues supporting
17 Feb 2015
Hampton by Hilton launch partnership with 2019 Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen
17 Aug 2019
More from Yutang Sports
SportAccord Summit 2024 Logo Unveiled
29 Nov 2023
Interview with Nicolas Maurer: Becoming Mainstream and at the Forefront of French Esports Industry
04 Oct 2023
Birmingham Welcomes the World as SportAccord 2024 Kicks Off
08 Apr 2024
SportAccord Bronze Partners Make Their Mark on Global Stage
08 Mar 2024
Future of Sport: a resounding success for the Global Sports Week and Viva Technology collaboration
21 Jun 2023
Yutang Sports
loading...