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Li consigns fine Australian Open run to history

The record books say Li Na was runner-up to Kim Clijsters at this year’s Australian Open, but less than a month after she became the first Asian to play in a Grand Slam singles final, she has already moved on, saying she hardly thinks about it.

Of course, being Chinese helps.

‘For me, it is history. The Chinese New Year was on the third of February, which means right now it’s the start of the New Year,’ Li said here on Tuesday.

‘For me, the Australian Open happened last year, so it has passed already,’ says Li, who is taking part in the Qatar Ladies Open.

‘Of course, it was exciting to be in the final of the Australian Open, but I mean, you cannot always think about how you did in the last tournament or the week before.

‘You have to look forward and what matters is what you are doing right now,’ added the world number 7.

The 29-year-old, who is ranked seventh in the world, said she was already paying the price of overestimating herself after she was ousted by Belgian Yanina Wickwayer in Dubai last week.

‘After the Australian Open, I started thinking I can win any tournament, but you know, last week I just lost in the first round.

‘So what I mean to say is tennis is not easy. It is not necessary that you would get what you want and so setting targets won’t help.’

Li insisted that her opponents are now more motivated when they play her because of her success at the Australian Open.

‘You have to do the hard work and for me now it is harder than before. Right now all the players see me differently and try to give their best. What I need to do is try and win a lot matches,’ said Li, who is coached by her husband Jiang Shan.

Li also revealed that despite her success her husband was more famous back home.

‘Right now, you know, I think my husband is more famous than me. When we walked together, I could hear people whisper ‘This is the husband of Li Na, and, oh, this is Li Na’. So, yeah, I mean, if I’m walking alone, nobody knows who I’m but if I walking with my husband, yeah, they know. So he’s more famous than me.’

Li, who is the fourth seed in Qatar, has been given a first round bye and will play her second round match on Wednesday.