Li stumbles at first hurdle in Beijing
Source: Agencies |
October 3, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LI Na suffered a nightmare first-round defeat at the China Open yesterday as she went down 4-6, 0-6 to 58th-ranked Romanian Monica Niculescu on an expectant center court.
The world No. 5, making her first appearance in China since winning the French Open this year, dropped serve repeatedly as her slump in form continued.
Qualifier Niculescu romped away with the match after taking the first set, leaving Li, and the fans at the newly-opened National Tennis Center in Beijing, stunned.
"I have just lost all confidence," a visibly shaken Li told reporters.
"On the court, I don't know what I can do. It was tough even winning one point. I asked my coach (husband Jiang Shan) to advise me. I know what he said was exactly right, but I couldn't do (it)."
Millions of Chinese television viewers enjoying a national holiday would have witnessed silence fall on the newly opened 15,000-seat centerpiece stadium when Li failed to respond to the vocal support of spectators.
The 29-year-old revealed ahead of the tournament that she was lacking "mental toughness", a condition laid bare during the humiliating encounter.
"China is special. This is the biggest tournament in China. Of course I wanted to do well. But sometimes if I really want to do well, I put more pressure on myself. (But) it's not only the pressure I give myself. It's also from outside," she said.
Since winning the French Open to become the first player from an Asian country to win a grand slam singles title, Li has managed just five victories and suffered a second-round defeat at Wimbledon and a first-round exit at the US Open.
She said she would now seek rest "not only for the body, but also for the mind".
Chinese wildcard Shuai Zhang also fell in the first round, losing to Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 0-6, 2-6.
US Open champion and world No. 7 Samantha Stosur of Australia made light work of Tsvetana Pironkova, beating the 45th-ranked Bulgarian 6-4, 6-0. Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm for the loss of just two games while Wimbledon semifinalist Sabine Lisicki of Germany progressed when Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu retired.
In Bangkok, fourth-ranked Andy Murray claimed his 19th career title in beating American Donald Young 6-2, 6-0 in the final of the Thailand Open yesterday.
The top-seeded Briton was in complete control throughout the 48-minute match, exploiting the lack of experience and unforced errors from his 55th-ranked opponent. Young was playing in his first tour final.
The world No. 5, making her first appearance in China since winning the French Open this year, dropped serve repeatedly as her slump in form continued.
Qualifier Niculescu romped away with the match after taking the first set, leaving Li, and the fans at the newly-opened National Tennis Center in Beijing, stunned.
"I have just lost all confidence," a visibly shaken Li told reporters.
"On the court, I don't know what I can do. It was tough even winning one point. I asked my coach (husband Jiang Shan) to advise me. I know what he said was exactly right, but I couldn't do (it)."
Millions of Chinese television viewers enjoying a national holiday would have witnessed silence fall on the newly opened 15,000-seat centerpiece stadium when Li failed to respond to the vocal support of spectators.
The 29-year-old revealed ahead of the tournament that she was lacking "mental toughness", a condition laid bare during the humiliating encounter.
"China is special. This is the biggest tournament in China. Of course I wanted to do well. But sometimes if I really want to do well, I put more pressure on myself. (But) it's not only the pressure I give myself. It's also from outside," she said.
Since winning the French Open to become the first player from an Asian country to win a grand slam singles title, Li has managed just five victories and suffered a second-round defeat at Wimbledon and a first-round exit at the US Open.
She said she would now seek rest "not only for the body, but also for the mind".
Chinese wildcard Shuai Zhang also fell in the first round, losing to Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 0-6, 2-6.
US Open champion and world No. 7 Samantha Stosur of Australia made light work of Tsvetana Pironkova, beating the 45th-ranked Bulgarian 6-4, 6-0. Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm for the loss of just two games while Wimbledon semifinalist Sabine Lisicki of Germany progressed when Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu retired.
In Bangkok, fourth-ranked Andy Murray claimed his 19th career title in beating American Donald Young 6-2, 6-0 in the final of the Thailand Open yesterday.
The top-seeded Briton was in complete control throughout the 48-minute match, exploiting the lack of experience and unforced errors from his 55th-ranked opponent. Young was playing in his first tour final.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
