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By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Former WTA No. 1 ranked doubles player. The first Chinese player, male or female – singles or doubles, to achieve the world No. 1 ranking. Winner of 19 career WTA singles titles including two this year.
Ht: 5-8 Wt: 140
DOB: January 8. 1986 In: Xiangtan, Hunan, China
Tennis Inspiration: “Steffi Graf.”
First Tennis Memory: “I started at eight years old. And then I’m not like strong, I’m small and skinny. And my mom think I need to get stronger. My mom had two brothers who are tennis players and that’s why I chose to play tennis.”
Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “Well, when I was young I didn’t love it. Now I think I love more than before. I think it brings me a lot of happiness but also a lot of tough times and sad, they are kind of together. I feel, in the court to play the match, a lot of time you are thinking how to play the opponent. I just love this game. Even if I lose. I really want to enjoy this short tennis career.”
Last Book Read: ‘Oh my god. That was a long time ago [laughs]. A lot of times I read half and don’t finish it [laughs]. I didn’t read a book lately. All the time playing in the Chinese system I talk to friends, all this. In the room I look at movies.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Well, I didn’t finish my career yet. I think it’s tough to say now [laughs]. I’d like to answer in a couple years. I think I’ve had some great moments. But it’s really tough to say it’s the best.”
Most Painful Moment: “Oh lots. Too much [laughs]. I think in 2006. Yeah. (Injuries? Bad year?) it’s tough to say. It’s just really hard for me to talk about it.”
Favorite Tournaments: “I think I like… tough for me to say also [laughs]. Maybe, for me, China Open. Because it’s home.”
Closest Friends On Tour: “Close friends… how close [laughs]? Chuang Chia-Jung. Sometimes I talk with my doubles partner. But not like best (friend).”
Funniest Players Encountered: “I think it’s Chuang Chia-Jung, Yan Zi. When we are three together we always make some jokes. And John McEnroe.”
Strangest Match: “[Laughs] I don’t remember that [laughs]. I think if it did happen I was just happy it was over!”
Favorite Players To Watch: “I don’t have one. There’s many players, because they play differently. So it’s many players. I like to watch Clijsters, Wozniacki, Bartoli. I cannot play like a Rafa [laughs]. Like to watch. Federer. And Andy Murray,.”
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “I like many sports. Badminton, soccer. Not really (to) like play. Also ping pong and swimming, yeah. Just play like a little game of soccer.”
Best You Ever Felt On Court: “Well, I don’t know what’s the best I played. Because I’m always amazed … sometimes I do it and I lose. And sometimes I play little good and maybe I win. So, the best… I don’t know yet.”
Career Accomplishments: Achieved WTA world No. 1 ranking in doubles in February 2014; Won 2010 Asian Games gold medal; Won 2013 Wimbledon doubles and 2014 French Open doubles with Su-Wei Hsieh; Has career singles wins over Venus Williams, Hingis, Petrova, Myskina, Na, Radwanska, Safina, Clijsters, Mauresmo, Schiavone, Jankovic, Ivanovic, Kuznetsova, Zvonareva.
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China · John McEnroe · Peng Shuai · Roland Garros · Steffi Graf · Wimbledon · WTA
