Li to take a break after shock Flushing Meadows loss
Source: AFP |
September 2, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE star Li Na will take a break from tennis otherwise the sport will "kill" her after she was sent crashing out of the US Open on Friday by teenage British giant-killer Laura Robson.
Ninth seed Li was beaten in the third round 4-6, 7-6 (5), 2-6 by 18-year-old Robson, the world No. 89, who had also defeated triple US Open champion Kim Clijsters in the previous round at Flushing Meadows.
"I can't go back on the practice court straightaway. I have to take some days off otherwise this will kill me," said 30-year-old Li.
The two-hour, 25-minute defeat meant it's the first time since 2008 that Li has not reached at least the quarterfinals at any grand slam during a season.
"I will have to talk to my team," she said. "Maybe they can see things clearer on the court and we can plan for the next step."
Robson becomes the first British woman to make the last 16 in New York since Jo Durie in 1991 and will face defending champion Samantha Stosur of Australia for a place in the quarterfinals.
For Li, it was a bitter exit.
She had arrived in New York bubbling with confidence having won the Cincinnati title, her first trophy since Roland Garros in 2011, as well as reaching the final in Montreal.
She had also hired Carlos Rodriguez, the former coach of Belgian world No. 1 Justine Henin, and the partnership seemed to be paying dividends until she ran into an inspired Robson.
Ninth seed Li was beaten in the third round 4-6, 7-6 (5), 2-6 by 18-year-old Robson, the world No. 89, who had also defeated triple US Open champion Kim Clijsters in the previous round at Flushing Meadows.
"I can't go back on the practice court straightaway. I have to take some days off otherwise this will kill me," said 30-year-old Li.
The two-hour, 25-minute defeat meant it's the first time since 2008 that Li has not reached at least the quarterfinals at any grand slam during a season.
"I will have to talk to my team," she said. "Maybe they can see things clearer on the court and we can plan for the next step."
Robson becomes the first British woman to make the last 16 in New York since Jo Durie in 1991 and will face defending champion Samantha Stosur of Australia for a place in the quarterfinals.
For Li, it was a bitter exit.
She had arrived in New York bubbling with confidence having won the Cincinnati title, her first trophy since Roland Garros in 2011, as well as reaching the final in Montreal.
She had also hired Carlos Rodriguez, the former coach of Belgian world No. 1 Justine Henin, and the partnership seemed to be paying dividends until she ran into an inspired Robson.
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