Li dumps Venus to break into top 10
Source: Agencies |
January 28, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LI Na reached her goal of becoming China's first top 10 player quicker than expected after grinding down Venus Williams in three sets to join compatriot Zheng Jie in the semifinals of the Australian Open on Sunday.
The gruelling 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 victory over the sixth-seeded American also ensured that she and Zheng became the first Asian players to make the last four of the same grand slam.
The 27-year-old, who has battled injuries in the last few years, achieved her best results on the tour. She hastened to add however that the win over the seven-time grand slam winner Venus was not her best.
"I don't want to say yes, because the tournament is not finished yet," a beaming Li told reporters after setting up a semifinal with Venus' younger sister Serena.
"So exciting. Maybe I take the beer tonight," she joked. "Because my goal this year was top 10. But now it's only January so it's come quickly.
"I didn't think about that. I know the tournament is not finished. So (I'll) continue hopefully."
Li and Zheng's giant-killing run has ignited the draw at Melbourne Park and thrilled fans at home.
"Right now you can see many media from China right here ... After the match I get 20 text messages from friends because they saw the match," said Li.
Now working with Swedish coach Thomas Hogstedt, the hard-hitting Li broke through to the quarterfinals at the US Open last year, her first last-eight appearance at a grand slam since her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2006.
Fragile
Long accused of being fragile under pressure and failing to fulfil her potential, she has now developed a tougher mental edge which she proved during the tense final set against Venus.
"Right now I am feeling good because I have my team coming with me," Li said. "And because I'm lazy (if) I didn't want to practice I just tell my team 'We take the day off'.
"Before, if I was with the national team, I say: 'Can I take a day off?' and maybe they say no to me."
Hogstedt explained in a 2008 presentation that he worked with Li on her mental game - making her believe she had top 10 potential - and practicing with different types of players on different surfaces to improve her technique and adjustment skills. He said he also capitalized on her "explosiveness" - her energy and fitness levels.
She credited him with teaching her to never give up.
"He was teaching me a lot. Sometimes he talk too much but nice guy," Li joked.
Serena said she was not surprised by the Chinese charge.
"There's a lot of contenders that play for China," she said. "They're all really good. Especially with Jie doing so well and Li Na doing so well, you gotta expect people in China to be excited are going to want to put their daughter in tennis."
Li said she was adopting a philosophical approach to her match against Serena. "In China we say, 'if you have a tough time and then you return back, maybe you have good luck for after'," she said. "So I still believe that."
The gruelling 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 victory over the sixth-seeded American also ensured that she and Zheng became the first Asian players to make the last four of the same grand slam.
The 27-year-old, who has battled injuries in the last few years, achieved her best results on the tour. She hastened to add however that the win over the seven-time grand slam winner Venus was not her best.
"I don't want to say yes, because the tournament is not finished yet," a beaming Li told reporters after setting up a semifinal with Venus' younger sister Serena.
"So exciting. Maybe I take the beer tonight," she joked. "Because my goal this year was top 10. But now it's only January so it's come quickly.
"I didn't think about that. I know the tournament is not finished. So (I'll) continue hopefully."
Li and Zheng's giant-killing run has ignited the draw at Melbourne Park and thrilled fans at home.
"Right now you can see many media from China right here ... After the match I get 20 text messages from friends because they saw the match," said Li.
Now working with Swedish coach Thomas Hogstedt, the hard-hitting Li broke through to the quarterfinals at the US Open last year, her first last-eight appearance at a grand slam since her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2006.
Fragile
Long accused of being fragile under pressure and failing to fulfil her potential, she has now developed a tougher mental edge which she proved during the tense final set against Venus.
"Right now I am feeling good because I have my team coming with me," Li said. "And because I'm lazy (if) I didn't want to practice I just tell my team 'We take the day off'.
"Before, if I was with the national team, I say: 'Can I take a day off?' and maybe they say no to me."
Hogstedt explained in a 2008 presentation that he worked with Li on her mental game - making her believe she had top 10 potential - and practicing with different types of players on different surfaces to improve her technique and adjustment skills. He said he also capitalized on her "explosiveness" - her energy and fitness levels.
She credited him with teaching her to never give up.
"He was teaching me a lot. Sometimes he talk too much but nice guy," Li joked.
Serena said she was not surprised by the Chinese charge.
"There's a lot of contenders that play for China," she said. "They're all really good. Especially with Jie doing so well and Li Na doing so well, you gotta expect people in China to be excited are going to want to put their daughter in tennis."
Li said she was adopting a philosophical approach to her match against Serena. "In China we say, 'if you have a tough time and then you return back, maybe you have good luck for after'," she said. "So I still believe that."
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