Li Na (1)

Li Na, winner of the 2011 French Open and the 2014 Australian Open, is my favourite tennis player - I'm not a huge tennis fan, but I do like her on-court skill, determination and power, and her memorable off-court interviews.

Li Na is a stubborn individualist, and that has frequently led to conflict with the all-encompassing state sports system in which she grew up - conflicts documented in this book. But the core of the book is her relationship with her husband Jiang Shan, a former top show more Chinese player who gave that up to be the tennis equivalent of Li Na's caddy - and also, for a time, her coach, something that wasn't great for her marriage and which they wisely brought to an end.

There are probably stories Li Na could have told about her childhood and her battles with the Chinese tennis authorities that she has chosen not to, but nevertheless, this is an interesting and moving autobiography that you don't have to be a tennis nut to enjoy. show less