Li Na to put lid on celebrations
Source: AFP |
August 31, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LI Na said on Wednesday that if she wins the US Open, she will not ruin her champagne moment by overdoing the celebrations.
In January this year, the Chinese star woke up with a thumping hangover following her Australian Open fourth round defeat to Kim Clijsters in a match where she squandered four match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 loss.
"It was really tough. I played Kim this year in Australia, and I think both of us played a very good match. But for me it was worse because the next day is Chinese New Year," recalled Li.
"After I lose the match, I was like, 'What was going on. Everyone was so happy without me,' so I was like, 'OK, just take the beer and totally drunk.'
"Next day I wake up, I was like, 'OK, forget what I do yesterday.' In China, we say if you lose the day, you feel a whole year is not so lucky.
"So I said, 'OK, c'mon. I have four match points.' Suddenly I was lost. I was like, 'OK, totally lost. I just drink all the time, yeah.'"
And the 30-year-old was adamant that any success in New York would be celebrated calmly and in moderation.
"Fortunately I not do the same," she said. "Maybe a couple of beers, but not all the time."
Li reached the US Open third round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Australia's Casey Dellacqua. She next faces British teenager Laura Robson who beat Clijsters.
Li admitted that her sudden fame turned her head so much that she lost sight of her priorities.
"I'm not a movie star. I'm an athlete. I have to do a good job on the tennis court," she said. "So I was feeling if I can't do well, why the sponsors should come for me? They can come for another athlete. I really wanted to do well, but sometimes it didn't work."
Meanwhile, top seed Victoria Azarenka will face Zheng Jie in the third round. Zheng beat Slovak qualifier Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-1 to advance.
In January this year, the Chinese star woke up with a thumping hangover following her Australian Open fourth round defeat to Kim Clijsters in a match where she squandered four match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 loss.
"It was really tough. I played Kim this year in Australia, and I think both of us played a very good match. But for me it was worse because the next day is Chinese New Year," recalled Li.
"After I lose the match, I was like, 'What was going on. Everyone was so happy without me,' so I was like, 'OK, just take the beer and totally drunk.'
"Next day I wake up, I was like, 'OK, forget what I do yesterday.' In China, we say if you lose the day, you feel a whole year is not so lucky.
"So I said, 'OK, c'mon. I have four match points.' Suddenly I was lost. I was like, 'OK, totally lost. I just drink all the time, yeah.'"
And the 30-year-old was adamant that any success in New York would be celebrated calmly and in moderation.
"Fortunately I not do the same," she said. "Maybe a couple of beers, but not all the time."
Li reached the US Open third round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Australia's Casey Dellacqua. She next faces British teenager Laura Robson who beat Clijsters.
Li admitted that her sudden fame turned her head so much that she lost sight of her priorities.
"I'm not a movie star. I'm an athlete. I have to do a good job on the tennis court," she said. "So I was feeling if I can't do well, why the sponsors should come for me? They can come for another athlete. I really wanted to do well, but sometimes it didn't work."
Meanwhile, top seed Victoria Azarenka will face Zheng Jie in the third round. Zheng beat Slovak qualifier Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-1 to advance.
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