Sports Replay with Li Na: 2018 will be more exciting

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In today’s Sports Scene special edition – Sports Replay in 15:30, former world No.2, two-time grand slam champion Li Na, reviews the 2017 season for both WTA and ATP, either World tennis or tennis in China.

Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova /CGTN Photo

The WTA was open and competitive during the 2017 season: Serena Williams was pregnant, Victoria Azarenka was in turmoil regarding ongoing custody issues surrounding her son, and Maria Sharapova came back from a drug suspension.

Li Na holds the Australian Open trophy. /VCG Photo

"Currently it is very hard for women players to dominate like Steffi Graf or Serena Williams," Li Na said of the WTA tour. "Now all the women players have a chance to win their maiden or second Grand Slam title because the competition is so tight."

Four different players won the women's grand slams. /CGTN Photo

There were four different winners of the grand slams, two of them for the first time.

Five players reached the singles world No.1 during the season, and the 37-year-old Venus Williams played the singles final in Melbourne and Wimbledon, 20 years after her first appearance in the championship match at a grand slam.

Li Na believes that 2018 will be a more exciting year, because Serena and Azarenka will be back. And Li thinks Serena will try her best to play while taking care of her baby.

Wang Xinyu and Maria Sharapova /VCG Photo

China's women have a lot to look forward to in the new year. Sixteen-year-old Wang Xinyu secured a wildcard for the Australian Open’s singles main draw by winning the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff. She will be the youngest Chinese to play in four adult grand slams.

As Li said, it's really a good chance for Wang. She will experience a totally different level of competitiveness compared to that of the youth level.

Wu Yibing holds his junior US Open trophy. /VCG Photo

On the men's side, Wu Yibing, who born in 1999, won both junior singles and doubles titles at the US Open and achieved the junior world No.1. And he is the first Chinese male to win both singles and doubles titles in four junior grand slams.

As Li said, they don't need to answer the questions like "Where are the Chinese male players?" anymore. And the players who achieved successful results are all the more impressive due to the quality of competition. And for all employees working in tennis in China, their greatest reward will be seeing a new Chinese star rising.

CGTN Sports Scene's year-end special program, "Sports Replay" will still air in tomorrow's Sports Scene at 15:30-16:00, join us to replay your 2017 sporting year.