Easily recognized by the red rose tattoo on her chest, Li Na understands rebellion. In 2008 she split from the Chinese Tennis Association, which had been taking up to 65% of her tournament earnings. Under a Chinese pilot program for sports stars dubbed Fly Alone, she gave up state funding so that she could hold on to her millions in prize money and choose her coach (who, until recently, was also her husband). After winning the French Open in June 2011, the 29-year-old became the only Chinese tennis player ever to capture a Grand Slam singles title. Status as a national hero followed: 116 million Chinese tuned in to that match, one poll claimed that 44% of those viewers cried, and pundits have predicted that she can single-handedly inspire a generation of future Chinese champions. Li doesn’t mind the lofty expectations. “I don’t think of it as pressure. I try to do my best on the court every day,” she says. “I always want to do well for me and for my team, and if I make people in China proud, that is also great.”