Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters were the winners of the just concluded Australian Open ; Djokovic winning his second major in Melbourne and Clijsters winning her second consecutive major (half way to her Grand-Mother-Slam) – but it was China’s Na Li who captured the imagination of the tennis world as the year’s first Grand Slam went down to the wire. Li had been to the semi-finals of a major event only once previously (in Melbourne last year) but came into this year’s tournament having won the Sydney WTA event, a pivotal tune-up for the women, beating Clijsters in the final, and headed to Melbourne as a dark horse. In previous years, her ball-striking ability has got as much attention as her inability to play her best consistently with the top women at the key events. And while she enhanced her giant killer reputation with wins over higher ranked Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round and top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals (where she saved a match point), it was her interviews on the court and in the press room that warmed the hearts of the tennis media and fans worldwide. Her candid and funny responses in broken English touched upon various aspects of her personal life – from her husband's snoring habits to her motivation when she was down a set in the semis.
But apparently, being the first player from your country to reach the world's top 10 and also the first player from your continent to reach a Grand Slam final isn't enough to please everyone back home. National pride has turned into a rally of abuse after it was reported that Li asked the chair umpire during the finals to tell the Chinese fans to stop teaching her how to play tennis and also repeated the same in her press conference later. Her remarks have led to a flurry of negative remarks on the micro-blogging Twitter while the state run Global Times newspaper reported, “While being a Chinese, Li asked a foreigner (British umpire) to demand the Chinese spectators stop shouting, making her just like an outsider.” This is not the first time that the tattooed Li has been the subject of controversy back home. In 2008, she demanded independence from the Chinese tennis federation - choosing to determine her own schedule of events, hire her own coaching team and also retain a larger part of her earnings than earlier permitted – cultivating the image of a rare rebel in the tightly controlled Chinese sporting scene.
This phenomenon is not exactly new in Asia. A few years ago, when Sania Mirza was making waves on the WTA tour as she rose to a career high #27 in the rankings and going where no Indian woman had ever tread before, the Indian was subject to several backlashes back home. Controversies engulfed her, ranging from showing disrespect to the Indian flag, to Muslim clerics objecting to her playing in short skirts and her views on pre-marital sex - and Mirza was at the receiving end of heavy criticism – so much so that she decided at one point not to play in India's only WTA event as she did not want to deal with these elements.
As athletes, Li & Mirza have proven to be path breakers – symbols that with the right talent & right opportunities, Asian women can compete with the world's best on the tennis court. But they also stand as a symbol of something more. Li as a symbol that it is possible for Chinese athletes to branch out from the their tight fisted federations and achieve success . Mirza, a symbol of the modern Muslim woman, one with the ability to speak her mind and stand independently on and off the court. It is these virtues which they stand for that the authorities in their respective countries are not exactly gung-ho about. As long as the backlash remains contained among the few who have a vested interest in promoting their own propaganda, things should remain fine. But when this mixes with the disappointment of the fans when the very same athletes fail to maintain the high standards that they have set, it becomes a potent & dangerous combination. The two countries have far too few sporting women role models but far too many people willing to pull these national heroes down instead of celebrating them.
But apparently, being the first player from your country to reach the world's top 10 and also the first player from your continent to reach a Grand Slam final isn't enough to please everyone back home. National pride has turned into a rally of abuse after it was reported that Li asked the chair umpire during the finals to tell the Chinese fans to stop teaching her how to play tennis and also repeated the same in her press conference later. Her remarks have led to a flurry of negative remarks on the micro-blogging Twitter while the state run Global Times newspaper reported, “While being a Chinese, Li asked a foreigner (British umpire) to demand the Chinese spectators stop shouting, making her just like an outsider.” This is not the first time that the tattooed Li has been the subject of controversy back home. In 2008, she demanded independence from the Chinese tennis federation - choosing to determine her own schedule of events, hire her own coaching team and also retain a larger part of her earnings than earlier permitted – cultivating the image of a rare rebel in the tightly controlled Chinese sporting scene.
This phenomenon is not exactly new in Asia. A few years ago, when Sania Mirza was making waves on the WTA tour as she rose to a career high #27 in the rankings and going where no Indian woman had ever tread before, the Indian was subject to several backlashes back home. Controversies engulfed her, ranging from showing disrespect to the Indian flag, to Muslim clerics objecting to her playing in short skirts and her views on pre-marital sex - and Mirza was at the receiving end of heavy criticism – so much so that she decided at one point not to play in India's only WTA event as she did not want to deal with these elements.
As athletes, Li & Mirza have proven to be path breakers – symbols that with the right talent & right opportunities, Asian women can compete with the world's best on the tennis court. But they also stand as a symbol of something more. Li as a symbol that it is possible for Chinese athletes to branch out from the their tight fisted federations and achieve success . Mirza, a symbol of the modern Muslim woman, one with the ability to speak her mind and stand independently on and off the court. It is these virtues which they stand for that the authorities in their respective countries are not exactly gung-ho about. As long as the backlash remains contained among the few who have a vested interest in promoting their own propaganda, things should remain fine. But when this mixes with the disappointment of the fans when the very same athletes fail to maintain the high standards that they have set, it becomes a potent & dangerous combination. The two countries have far too few sporting women role models but far too many people willing to pull these national heroes down instead of celebrating them.
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