Rules of the game

Winner takes all. That seems true for many Chinese athletes who win gold medals or championships at the international level.

Li Na had already won more than $1.7 million as this year's French Open champion. So the 600,000 yuan ($92,830) she received from the government in her home province of Hubei for being a role model came as a bonus.

Credit goes to Li Na for managing herself like the other professional players. Her victory has seemingly blazed a new trail for success alongside the country's State-run sports system.