Chinese star wanted to retire after tough new training regime
Source: AFP |
January 23, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LI Na's superior strength and fitness told as she reached the Australian Open semifinals yesterday after a preseason training regime that was so tough, she considered quitting.
Li reached her first grand slam semifinal since winning the 2011 French Open with a 7-5, 6-3 win against Agnieszka Radwanska, the world No. 4 who had been unbeaten this year.
Li was formerly coached by her husband, Jiang Shan, but Carlos Rodriguez, Justine Henin's former handler, took the reins last year.
But Li, 30, said she was so exhausted after three days of offseason training in December that she told Jiang her career could be over.
"We train every day for five, six hours, but not only playing tennis," Li, the sixth seed, said. "Tennis was like maybe two, three hours. Fitness was for two or three hours as well.
"First time I was training with him, I was so excited, but after three days, I was dying. My husband didn't come with me to Beijing. After three days I was really tired. I called my husband and said, 'I really want to retire'. It was only three days. How could I continue for three weeks or all the year?"
However, the work has paid off with Li just one match away from her third grand slam final.
Li reached her first grand slam semifinal since winning the 2011 French Open with a 7-5, 6-3 win against Agnieszka Radwanska, the world No. 4 who had been unbeaten this year.
Li was formerly coached by her husband, Jiang Shan, but Carlos Rodriguez, Justine Henin's former handler, took the reins last year.
But Li, 30, said she was so exhausted after three days of offseason training in December that she told Jiang her career could be over.
"We train every day for five, six hours, but not only playing tennis," Li, the sixth seed, said. "Tennis was like maybe two, three hours. Fitness was for two or three hours as well.
"First time I was training with him, I was so excited, but after three days, I was dying. My husband didn't come with me to Beijing. After three days I was really tired. I called my husband and said, 'I really want to retire'. It was only three days. How could I continue for three weeks or all the year?"
However, the work has paid off with Li just one match away from her third grand slam final.
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