Li unhappy about playing doubles at London Games
Source: Agencies |
June 29, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LI Na is upset with China's tennis federation for entering her into the doubles fixtures much against her wishes at the London Games.
The 2011 French Open champion was named in the women's singles and doubles in an entry list released by the International Tennis Federation on Tuesday.
Li's team told local media earlier this month that she hoped to focus only on the singles given her injuries, regardless of sports officials' wishes to have her play in both events.
"If it were true, I don't know why they wanted me to play doubles," Li, who was named to partner Zhang Shuai in the doubles, responded when asked about her selection.
"Last time I played doubles was during the 2007 Australian Open.
"So far I have not heard from anyone asking me to play doubles," she added.
"I hope they could respect athletes more ... the way they handled this makes me uncomfortable."
Li's 23-year-old partner Zhang failed to qualify for the ongoing Wimbledon's singles and was tipped out of the doubles in the first round.
"I am not 13 years old and need a guardian," Li fumed. "I am 30 now and all these issues could have been put on the table. If both (parties) are okay, we do it, otherwise we do not."
Li, whose French Open triumph last year made her the first player from an Asian country to win a grand slam tournament, tumbled out of Wimbledon with a 6-3, 6-4 second round loss to Romania's Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday.
Li said later she had obliged herself to obey the decision now that it has already been taken out of her hands.
"Life is like a cup of tea. It won't be bitter for a life-time but for a short while anyway," she said, striking a more philosophical tone in a message posted on her Weibo account, where she boasts 5.6 million followers.
But the Wuhan native said she was looking forward to the Olympics.
"This is my last time to play for my country at the Olympics because I'm 30 already and you never know what will happen after four years.
"I really wish I can do well."
The usual clothing restrictions will be relaxed at the traditionalist All England Club for the Olympic tennis tournament, with players wearing the national colors instead of the regulation white.
"I'm also looking forward to seeing Wimbledon without people wearing white," she said.
"In the Olympics you can wear the country's color to play in Wimbledon so I'm looking forward to seeing that. In more than 100 years nothing has changed here so maybe it's the only time in a lifetime you can see this with the colors."
The 2011 French Open champion was named in the women's singles and doubles in an entry list released by the International Tennis Federation on Tuesday.
Li's team told local media earlier this month that she hoped to focus only on the singles given her injuries, regardless of sports officials' wishes to have her play in both events.
"If it were true, I don't know why they wanted me to play doubles," Li, who was named to partner Zhang Shuai in the doubles, responded when asked about her selection.
"Last time I played doubles was during the 2007 Australian Open.
"So far I have not heard from anyone asking me to play doubles," she added.
"I hope they could respect athletes more ... the way they handled this makes me uncomfortable."
Li's 23-year-old partner Zhang failed to qualify for the ongoing Wimbledon's singles and was tipped out of the doubles in the first round.
"I am not 13 years old and need a guardian," Li fumed. "I am 30 now and all these issues could have been put on the table. If both (parties) are okay, we do it, otherwise we do not."
Li, whose French Open triumph last year made her the first player from an Asian country to win a grand slam tournament, tumbled out of Wimbledon with a 6-3, 6-4 second round loss to Romania's Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday.
Li said later she had obliged herself to obey the decision now that it has already been taken out of her hands.
"Life is like a cup of tea. It won't be bitter for a life-time but for a short while anyway," she said, striking a more philosophical tone in a message posted on her Weibo account, where she boasts 5.6 million followers.
But the Wuhan native said she was looking forward to the Olympics.
"This is my last time to play for my country at the Olympics because I'm 30 already and you never know what will happen after four years.
"I really wish I can do well."
The usual clothing restrictions will be relaxed at the traditionalist All England Club for the Olympic tennis tournament, with players wearing the national colors instead of the regulation white.
"I'm also looking forward to seeing Wimbledon without people wearing white," she said.
"In the Olympics you can wear the country's color to play in Wimbledon so I'm looking forward to seeing that. In more than 100 years nothing has changed here so maybe it's the only time in a lifetime you can see this with the colors."
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