Shanghai It was supposed to be a hero’s welcome. Li Na, Australian Open tennis champion, returning ­triumphantly to her home town of Wuhan to spend ­Chinese New Year with her family.

A crowd of fans and her childhood coach waited at the airport, a reminder of where it all began. Later the Communist Party leader of Hubei province handed over an 800,000 yuan ($150,000) cheque as he thanked Li for “winning honour for her mother country and the people of her hometown".