Soccer is a world sport where China does not have the kind of impact that reflects its size and the power of state sponsorship. Tennis is another. That could be about to change, thanks - ironically - to a woman who has openly bucked the state system and its conformity.
Tomorrow, 28-year-old Li Na will become the first mainland Chinese to contest one of the four grand-slam tennis titles when she steps onto centre court in Melbourne for the final of the Australian women's open tournament. Her achievement is underlined by the big names of women's tennis who have fallen by the wayside. But that still leaves her facing a formidable opponent tomorrow. Belgian Kim Clijsters, a triple grand-slam winner seeking her first Australian title, will be a different proposition from when Li beat her in the Sydney international earlier this month.
As well as making history, what sets Li apart is independence and outspokenness that has got her to where she is now. The rigid state sports system may have produced champions in countless disciplines, but not in the ego hothouse of the top international women's tennis circuit - or world soccer, for that matter.
Li turned her back on it, won the right for her and other players to keep more of their prize money and called for other athletes to be allowed to pursue their careers free of strict government controls. She is such an exception that Western media have recorded that she is tattooed and pierced, not that such adornment is unusual among women tennis players. Happily, state media has joined mainland Web users in hailing her success, which can only boost official efforts to promote tennis with big tournaments in China.
Nowadays, Li is coached by her husband - not always a recipe for success. Overprotective spouses or parents can be worse than state nannies.
Win or lose tomorrow, Li will do her country proud - and be proud of it. China is an exception to the saying that sport and politics don't mix. In her own way Li has shown the Communist Party that it need not fear greater individual freedoms.