The first person in Asia! China star Li Na officially entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

　　On the evening of 20th local time, the entrance ceremony of the 2019 International Tennis Hall of Fame began in Rhode Island in the eastern United States. Retired China tennis star Li Na officially entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame, becoming the first player from China and even Asia to enter the Hall of Fame.

　　On the same day, Pierce from France and Kafelnikov from Russia joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

　　The Hall of Fame said in a statement: Li Na, a two-time Grand Slam women’s singles champion and once ranked second in the world, was accepted not only because of her record, but also because of her love for the sport and her great role in cultivating and inspiring young people.

　　Born in Wuhan, Hubei Province in 1982, Li Na began to learn to play tennis at the age of 8. She won two Grand Slams and several singles titles in her career.

　　In the 2011 French Open, Li Na defeated many famous players in succession and won the first Grand Slam title in her career. At that time, 116 million people watched her final in China. Her professional achievements and personality charm have greatly influenced the popularity of tennis in China.

　　In September 2014, Li Na officially announced her retirement.

　　The International Tennis Hall of Fame was established in 1954 in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. At present, it has attracted more than 250 people from more than 20 countries and regions who have made outstanding contributions to tennis. Entering the International Tennis Hall of Fame is the highest honor in the tennis world, which means that the entrants not only have outstanding achievements, but also have outstanding contributions in the world tennis history. In other words, a player who has won a Grand Slam may not get into the Hall of Fame.

　　According to the selection rules, players are eligible to be shortlisted for the Hall of Fame after five years of retirement. The official voting group consists of journalists, historians, members of the Hall of Fame and other experts. Candidates must get 75% of the votes to be selected successfully.

　　Different from the past, fans from all over the world were also invited to vote this year, and Li Na ranked first in the global online voting for fans.

　　(CCTV reporter Zhu Yuli)