A star reborn

China's white-hot tennis champion is ready to take any court and any stage with new confidence, Sun Xiaochen reports.

She's battled tough opponents and sometimes her own fractious ego for years, but tennis star Li Na is finally feeling at ease with her game, her celebrity role in the spotlight and what it takes to be a role model off court.

"If you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best" - the famous quote from late US movie star Marilyn Monroe - has resonated with two-time Grand Slam champion Li as she has learned to accept both the sweet and the sour that the game of tennis brought to her life.