Li has it easy in Aussie opener, Hewitt out
Source: AFP |
January 15, 2013, Tuesday
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CHINA'S Li Na said her new coach had helped give her a stronger mentality after she won her Australian Open first-round match with ease yesterday.
Li has a reputation for fragility but the world No. 6 said her psychology had improved since teaming up with Justine Henin's ex-coach Carlos Rodriguez last year.
After overpowering Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-3, she said Rodriguez had improved her mind as well as her technique.
"I've been working with him since last August, and I'm feeling pretty good. I don't know how is he feeling, but he seems OK," she said. "He's not only a teacher about tennis. It's not only about technique. He's also about making my mind more stronger on the court."
Li established herself early in each set as she went through in 1 hour and 18 minutes to set up a second-round match with Olga Govorstova of Belarus.
The 2011 French Open winner belted a deep forehand winner to claim the first game and she seized control by breaking for 3-1 and then 5-1, taking the set with ease.
Karatantcheva made her work harder for the second set but her resistance ultimately proved futile as Li sealed her progression with a forehand winner.
"It's always tough in first round. You just come to the court 50-50. You never know, you can beat her or you can lose her," said Li.
"Everyone is the same against each other. So before the match he (Rodriguez) told me, I hope you can pass the first round. I said, OK, I'll try to win."
Also, Novak Djokovic made a commanding start to his quest for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles, while local hero Lleyton Hewitt became the first high-profile casualty.
The Serbian world No. 1 was in imperious form as he tossed aside Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 to waltz into the second round.
Hewitt, unseeded but playing in his record 17th consecutive home Open, was knocked out by Serbian eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-3.
Li has a reputation for fragility but the world No. 6 said her psychology had improved since teaming up with Justine Henin's ex-coach Carlos Rodriguez last year.
After overpowering Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-3, she said Rodriguez had improved her mind as well as her technique.
"I've been working with him since last August, and I'm feeling pretty good. I don't know how is he feeling, but he seems OK," she said. "He's not only a teacher about tennis. It's not only about technique. He's also about making my mind more stronger on the court."
Li established herself early in each set as she went through in 1 hour and 18 minutes to set up a second-round match with Olga Govorstova of Belarus.
The 2011 French Open winner belted a deep forehand winner to claim the first game and she seized control by breaking for 3-1 and then 5-1, taking the set with ease.
Karatantcheva made her work harder for the second set but her resistance ultimately proved futile as Li sealed her progression with a forehand winner.
"It's always tough in first round. You just come to the court 50-50. You never know, you can beat her or you can lose her," said Li.
"Everyone is the same against each other. So before the match he (Rodriguez) told me, I hope you can pass the first round. I said, OK, I'll try to win."
Also, Novak Djokovic made a commanding start to his quest for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles, while local hero Lleyton Hewitt became the first high-profile casualty.
The Serbian world No. 1 was in imperious form as he tossed aside Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 to waltz into the second round.
Hewitt, unseeded but playing in his record 17th consecutive home Open, was knocked out by Serbian eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-3.
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