China can learn from Li Na's personality

Despite losing the final at the Australian Open, 28-year-old Chinese tennis player Li Na is all the rage in the foreign media. This is related not only to her identity as the first Asian to play in a Grand Slam singles final, but also her courtside humor and bubbly personality.

Women's Tennis Association CEO Stacey Allaster said that on the global stage, Li represents the image of the Chinese people.

Every successful athlete, on certain occasions, becomes a symbol of his or her nation. Previously, Chinese sports players had a strong sense of "representing China," and often appeared conservative and overcautious. Foreign journalists used to find it hard to distinguish among Chinese athletes due to their lack of individuality in their eyes. Li is breaking that stereotype.

Li's impressive performance on the court was driven by her own personality and it represents a social change in China during the past two decades. Mainly, the constraints on self-expression have been shaken off. This forthright girl represents a different China that allows her to "just be herself."

Some foreign media outlets regard Li as a "Chinese tennis rebel." Indeed, she has many characteristics to validate this new title - she wears a rose tattoo on her chest and employs her husband as personal coach; she first thanked her sponsor at the award ceremony, and even asked the chair umpire during the tense second set: "Can you tell the Chinese don't teach me how to play tennis?"

In fact, such "rebelliousness" didn't upset the Chinese, because they've been fed up with clichés like "thank my leaders" or "thank my comrades." Furthermore, being reminded to behave with great care is probably the last thing they want while watching a game.

Chinese society and its people need to relax. They need a little humor and open-mindedness to cope with small mistakes, and imperfection should be allowed from time to time. Being excessively "correct" can lead to untruthfulness and pressure. China is not as "correct" as it was in the past. However, isn't this China more lovely and real?

The story of "Chinese tennis rebel" Li Na becoming the first Asian to play in a Grand Slam singles final has enriched the narrative of China's rise. Nowadays, many Chinese like Li are going global and pursuing their life goals with their vivid personality. They are not obliged to represent China, but they demonstrate a more natural and realistic profile of the nation.

China is neither perfect nor wicked - it is just a complicated, colossal developing country. Each and every one among us is a part of this complicated entity. With this thought, we can relax and be ourselves on many occasions.