Li eyes top-10 ranking after storming into quarterfinals
Source: Agencies |
January 26, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LI Na has set her sights on becoming China's first top 10 player after joining Zheng Jie in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday.
Li, who along with Zheng gave China two grand slam quarterfinalist in the same event for the first time, upset world No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3 to set up a clash with sixth-seeded American Venus Williams.
"Nothing better," a beaming Li told reporters when asked about the achievement. "(It's) good for us... Because we are working so hard.
"I don't know (the goals) of other Chinese players. But for me, this year I want come (in) to the top 10."
Zheng, a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2008, beat Ukraine's Alona Bondarenkow to set up a meeting with unseeded Russian Maria Kirilenko.
World No. 17 Li is currently China's top player but her career has been dogged with a variety of injuries after she became the first Chinese player to crack the top 20.
However, despite those setbacks, Li can now boast quarterfinal appearances at three grand slams.
The hard-hitting 27-year-old broke new ground for China when she reached the quarters at Wimbledon in 2006, and proved the achievement was no fluke by repeating the feat at Flushing Meadows last year.
Having struck a rare patch of injury-free form, Li now has a semifinal in her sights and hopes her best tennis is yet to come.
"Last year, I didn't play the Australian Open because I had knee surgery. But now (I'm) much better," she said.
"Everyone can see I was running so fast on the court. So that's why I have one physio come with me, and also (my) tennis coach and husband, so we have a big team."
Li along with Zheng, Peng Shuai and former Australian Open doubles champion Yan Zi, now manages her own team and schedule after previously being trained by China's national federation.
Li lifted her ranking from 23 to 15, upsetting three top 10 players and reaching two tour finals.
Her and Zheng's rise has drawn interest at home, and local Chinese media were curious as to whether the two were now getting more respect from other players on the tour.
"We say 'hello,'" she said.
"Anyway it's okay, there's now no-one left in the locker room."
Wozniacki had declared herself free of the big-match nerves but the bravado disappeared all too quickly against Li. "I had my chances especially in the first set leading. I had my chance (to go to) 5-2 and didn't take it," a gloomy Wozniacki, who advanced to the fourth round without conceding a set, told reporters.
"I tried to hang in there but it just didn't go my way today."
The loss was her second in two weeks to the dangerous Li, who has proved her giant-killing credentials with wins over three top-10 players last year.
"Against her you need to just play on your highest level the whole match through and keep concentrated and keep a lot of balls in play," Wozniacki said.
The Dane played in some discomfort and had her leg strapped by a trainer while trailing 1-3 in the second, but said it "didn't affect the score at the end."
Having enjoyed the packed crowds of a grand slam center court far quicker than most players her age, Wozniacki now faces a lonelier, more introspective spell on the practice court.
"I need to go back and work and go back stronger," she said.
"There's a long way to go and a long year ahead of me and now I'm gonna practice and work even harder and come back stronger."
Li, who along with Zheng gave China two grand slam quarterfinalist in the same event for the first time, upset world No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3 to set up a clash with sixth-seeded American Venus Williams.
"Nothing better," a beaming Li told reporters when asked about the achievement. "(It's) good for us... Because we are working so hard.
"I don't know (the goals) of other Chinese players. But for me, this year I want come (in) to the top 10."
Zheng, a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2008, beat Ukraine's Alona Bondarenkow to set up a meeting with unseeded Russian Maria Kirilenko.
World No. 17 Li is currently China's top player but her career has been dogged with a variety of injuries after she became the first Chinese player to crack the top 20.
However, despite those setbacks, Li can now boast quarterfinal appearances at three grand slams.
The hard-hitting 27-year-old broke new ground for China when she reached the quarters at Wimbledon in 2006, and proved the achievement was no fluke by repeating the feat at Flushing Meadows last year.
Having struck a rare patch of injury-free form, Li now has a semifinal in her sights and hopes her best tennis is yet to come.
"Last year, I didn't play the Australian Open because I had knee surgery. But now (I'm) much better," she said.
"Everyone can see I was running so fast on the court. So that's why I have one physio come with me, and also (my) tennis coach and husband, so we have a big team."
Li along with Zheng, Peng Shuai and former Australian Open doubles champion Yan Zi, now manages her own team and schedule after previously being trained by China's national federation.
Li lifted her ranking from 23 to 15, upsetting three top 10 players and reaching two tour finals.
Her and Zheng's rise has drawn interest at home, and local Chinese media were curious as to whether the two were now getting more respect from other players on the tour.
"We say 'hello,'" she said.
"Anyway it's okay, there's now no-one left in the locker room."
Wozniacki had declared herself free of the big-match nerves but the bravado disappeared all too quickly against Li. "I had my chances especially in the first set leading. I had my chance (to go to) 5-2 and didn't take it," a gloomy Wozniacki, who advanced to the fourth round without conceding a set, told reporters.
"I tried to hang in there but it just didn't go my way today."
The loss was her second in two weeks to the dangerous Li, who has proved her giant-killing credentials with wins over three top-10 players last year.
"Against her you need to just play on your highest level the whole match through and keep concentrated and keep a lot of balls in play," Wozniacki said.
The Dane played in some discomfort and had her leg strapped by a trainer while trailing 1-3 in the second, but said it "didn't affect the score at the end."
Having enjoyed the packed crowds of a grand slam center court far quicker than most players her age, Wozniacki now faces a lonelier, more introspective spell on the practice court.
"I need to go back and work and go back stronger," she said.
"There's a long way to go and a long year ahead of me and now I'm gonna practice and work even harder and come back stronger."
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