Li Na hailed as China's new idols

China, 'Li Na, known as the country as a par with the NBA superstar Yao Ming idol, following her historic victory in Paris, making her the first Asian player to lift a Grand Slam tennis singles title.

 

In its own people and her three best compared to China's world-renowned athletes, he said the strength of Li Na in this country, with the Houston Rockets center Yao Ming's height, the speed of Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang and the snooker star Ding Ding accuracy.

 

Despite her loss at the Australian Open final to Kim Clijsters in one, the Chinese Tennis Li Na as the flag bearer popularity has soared, reaching new heights at the French Open.

 

Last week, the country's sports pages are dominated with 29-year-old, she beat Maria Sharapova semi-final of praise. On the defending champion Francesca Schiavone finals, the Chinese broadcast live on national television, attracting a record 95 million viewers.

 

Internet in China, more than 470 million users at home, the micro-Bo Li Na followers rose about 200,000 to 2,070,000 overnight. Major portals were flooded with congratulatory messages, and other people wrote, "Victory belongs to Li Na and the state" and some said: "I am very excited, and tears."

 

Li Na from the city of Wuhan in central China, is widely considered the inspiration for the younger generation and the modern symbol of female independence. She also for some well-known part of China's soft power abroad.

 

Li's popularity at home will soon exceed that of Yao Ming and Liu Xiang, in foreign countries, said Zhang Xiang, former national rowing champion of electronics, who is also from Wuhan. "I think tennis has a long history, is more influential than international basketball and hurdles.

 

Zhang's colleague, who asked to remain anonymous, added that "state-run sports system in 2008, Li Na started her own team, choose her own coach, even though her husband helped her responsible for their own financial security., All this is not for a woman, his athletic career in 29 easy to blossom. "

 

Wang a fee, in the provincial team, the Li Na is a member of the 20th century 90 player, he said, "That big sister" - the nickname Li Na - set an example for all of us, because she is "strong, stubborn and unyielding "the pursuit of her career.

 

To be a perfect idol, all she needs to do is control your temper. "The 17-year-old said.

 

Wang's teammate Zou Heaven, 18, said: "Li Na has set the pace, leadership style, and more and more young people will follow her and keep in the game of."

 

Tennis in China is considered an elite sport. Until the rapid growth in recent years, the number of players, but still far behind the popularity of basketball, football and table tennis operation.

 

Li's victory is seen as a huge boost to change an already long been from Europe, Australia and America the movement of the main players. "This is an all Asians, it can be used as the development of Chinese tennis great milestone in the large-scale source of pride, said:" The Chinese Tennis Chief Sun Jinfang.

 

Li Na also said that the former "Tennis is an international sport. I really hope it popular in China. I hope to see more and more Chinese people become the passion of tennis."