Australian Open 2014 women's champion: Awesome childhood photos of Li Na

A new post on what Li Na’s Australian Open win could mean for her career both on and off the court will be up tomorrow, but in the meantime, here are some pictures doing the rounds on the Chinese internet of the country’s biggest sports star in her (very) formative years…

Li Na at 100 days (a big celebration in China)

 

Li Na, aged 2, with her great-grandmother and her uncle (apparently)

Aged 4, in park in her hometown Wuhan

Showing some of her famous personality at age 5, a year before she took up badminton

The family resemblance is clear

Flares clearly came to China a little later than elsewhere (this was taken in the late 1980s)

Li Na, aged 16, with her grandparents and cousin

With husband and former coach Jiang Shan. Check out the long hair…

Nike came on the scene early, but note no rogue sponsor patches in those days!