Navratilova: Li’s future ‘up in the air’
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LI Na’s grand slam future is “up in the air” after an injury-hit season and the loss of her inspirational coach, tennis great Martina Navratilova said yesterday.
The 18-time grand slam champion said Li’s ability to withstand injuries was the critical question as she approaches her 33rd birthday in February.
China’s Li won the Australian Open in January but her season has nose-dived and along with splitting with coach Carlos Rodriguez, she has also been sidelined by a knee injury.
“The body is the biggest issue for her, clearly, now,” Navratilova said, when asked whether Li was capable of winning a third grand slam title.
“She had some motivation issues a year ago after Wimbledon but then she had a good talk with Carlos and then wins the Australian Open the following year.
“So she’s had a great year, she won a slam which is amazing. But now she may not play the rest of the year, so it’s up in the air for her. Game-wise, does she have a slam? Yes, but is the body going to cooperate?”
Navratilova was speaking during a promotional visit ahead of her WTA Legends appearance in Singapore in October, which will run alongside the season-ending WTA Championships.
Her comments underline the questions facing Li, who will miss the US Open and may not return until the inaugural Wuhan Open next month.
Li, ranked third in the world, has had dips in her career before but Rodriguez, the former coach of Justine Henin, was key to her most recent revival.
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