Li fine with husband as coach
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E-mail China Daily, April 10, 2012
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Li Na is not hiring.
Under the coaching of husband Jiang Shan, the Chinese tennis ace said she is satisfied with the team she has in place and has no intention of hiring a foreign coach.
"I don't know why the media always ask about hiring a foreign coach," Li said at a promotional event for Olympic partner Visa on Monday.
"Maybe you are not confident in Jiang and my current team, but up until now, I haven't had any intention of inviting a foreign coach and I hope the media won't ask about it again."
Jiang led Li to the Australian Open final at the beginning of last year, before Denmark Fed Cup captain Michael Mortensen took over and helped her win the French Open. Li's partnership with Mortensen concluded after the French Open, and Jiang returned.
After becoming the first Asian Grand Slam winner at Roland Garros, Li struggled the rest of 2011, but made the final 16 at the Australian Open this January.
Li said last year's Australian Open final, in which she lost to Belgian Kim Clijsters, was unforgettable.
"It made me believe I was close to a Grand Slam title," she said.
Li returned last week to China after the WTA Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, where she lost to Russian Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.
She said she is satisfied with her form this season.
"Compared with reaching the final at the Australian Open last year, people may feel a little bit disappointed about my result this year," Li said. "But I think my form is OK right now and I have no regrets so far."
It's an Olympic year, so the London Games are Li's top priority. She has adjusted her schedule in preparation.
"After the French Open (May 27-Jun 10), I won't play any matches until Wimbledon (June 25-July 8)," Li said.
"After Wimbledon, I will go back to China for two days and then see my doctor in Germany. Then, I will go to London one week before the Olympics to adjust to the grass court."
The London Games will be Li's third Olympics. She is hoping to do better than in Beijing in 2008, where she reached the final eight.
"It might be my last Olympic Games, so I don't want to have any regrets," Li said.
As one of China's most renowned athletes, Li has also been named as a member of Team Visa London.
Together with more than 50 of the world's elite athletes, Li will share her stories through the company's Olympic-themed marketing campaign, which it launched in China on Monday.
Through May 18, two winners will be selected every week from Chinese Visa cardholders who conduct cross-border payment transactions via Visa's network. The prize is a trip to London during the Games, which will be held from July 27 to Aug 12.
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