Husband, coach, punching bag

What has led to Chinese tennis ace Li Na's success?

An inherent gift? Her escape from the State-run system? The international agent?

All of the above contributed.

But the main reason is her husband and coach Jiang Shan, a low-profile man who has been training Li on and off the court for more than 10 years, while accepting all that comes with her — good, bad and sometimes ugly.

Their relationship budded in 1995, when both played on the Hubei provincial team. They married in 2006.

Jiang gave up his aspiration of becoming a professional player and started to coach Li in 2004.

He has also served as a shock absorber for Li's notoriously ferocious temper, which usually flares in close rallies and results in emotional meltdowns.

The good-natured Jiang is the yin for Li's yang. She sometimes calls her husband-cum-coach onto the court during match breaks to cathartically release her fury.

The public has seen this often on TV.

At the semifinal of this year's Sydney International WTA Premier tournament, Li asked for guidance when she was 4-0 behind Czech Petra Kvitova in the first set but disagreed with Jiang's advice and then publicly slammed his suggestions as "nonsense" during the live broadcast.

The Hubei province native even yelled at Jiang, commanding him to leave the stand during her third-round match against Agnieszka Radwanska at the 2009 Wimbledon.

"He was talking too much, so I was annoyed," she explained, after the straight-set loss to the Pole.

Li often publicly cracks jokes at Jiang's expense.

"My husband kept snoring so I couldn't sleep well last night," Li said, blaming her first-set nerves on Jiang after winning the semis against Danish Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open last year.

Li also had trouble remembering their anniversary date.

Just after joking about Jiang's snore, Li admitted she felt flustered when asked if that day was their fifth anniversary.

To make matters worse, Li often loses the gifts, such as jewelry, that Jiang buys her overseas.

"They just disappear easily, and I have no idea where they go," Li said, on a recent talk show.

"Maybe next time, I'll have to tape them to my neck."

But the 30-year-old knows Jiang is irreplaceable as the reason for her success.

Right after her first Grand Slam final appearance at the Australian Open last year, Li said to Jiang, in front of the media and the packed Rod Lavor Arena: "Fat or skinny, handsome or ugly, I will follow you forever."

Li has even tattooed declarations of her adoration of her husband on her chest and lower back.

Jiang is notoriously shy and rarely shows affection in public. But his latest declaration moved his wife to tears.

Jiang said to Li in a video: "Every couple meets and stays together for a reason. Although I rarely say it, it's my destiny to be with you."

After her Grand Slam win at Roland Garros, Li fell into a career slump, failing to go beyond the fourth round at any major while developing a tenser relationship with the media, which criticized her for being distracted by too much off-court work.

Things were never dandy between Li and the media, but that period marked a new low.

Jiang took care of all of her off-court affairs, including travel plans, accommodation arrangements and scouting, so she could focus on the court.

"I know it has been really tough for her to handle all that she had never imagined since last year's French Open," Jiang says.

"She must shoulder more than ever, but she works it out and hangs in there. I believe she'll fulfill more dreams and achieve better results. I definitely believe in her."

Jiang temporarily relinquished his helm to Danish coach Michael Mortensen around the French Open, but resumed his position as coach before last year's China Open.

Despite media calls for a renowned coach to replace Jiang following her lackluster performance at the WTA year-end finals, Li backed her husband.

"No matter whether Jiang is a good coach or not, he knows me best," Li says.

"We don't need words — a gesture or look says it all."

It's undeniable that Mortensen contributed greatly to Li's success, but it's Jiang who deserves the credit for improving her mental game.

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Jiang also serves as the lubricant between the rebellious Li and the governing body.

In the belief that the State-run system is too suffocating, Li temporarily retired for two years in 2002 after being banned by sports officials from managing her own career.

Jiang followed Li to study at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology and then persuaded her to return to the game in 2004 — before the governing body finally allowed her to fly alone with three other top aces in 2009 to play as a professional.

After the governing body forced Li to play the doubles at the London Olympic, Jiang interceded between the two sides and persuaded Li to accept.

Li will see legitimate challenges after being drawn in the tough first half at the 2012 Olympics.

She will face Daniela Hantuchova in the opening round on July 28.

Li must dig hard to oust the Slovakian, who holds the previous 3-2 WTA Tour record. If Li makes the third round, either world No 8 Wozniacki or promising Belgian star Yanina Wickmayer will be there. And US world No 4 Serena Williams will likely be Li's opponent at the quarterfinals.

"The draw is very hard for us, and it won't be easy at the Games," China's tennis chief Sun Jinfang said at the draw release in London on July 26.

"All we can do is fight to the end for the strongest Olympic tournament. No matter who we play, we must deliver our best."

Li and three other teammates — Zheng Jie, Peng Shuai and Zhang Shuai — won't move into the Olympic Village and will instead stay in a hotel near Wimbledon.

Contact the writer at sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn