Defending Champion Na Li Fears Failure in Paris

Written by: Staff on 23rd May 2012

Defending Champion Na Li Fears Failure in Paris

epa03224092 Chinese tennis player Na Li reacts during the match against Slovakian tennis player Dominika Cibulkova at the Italian Open Tennis Tournament, at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 18 May 2012. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI |

Roland Garros winner Li Na is grappling with a fear of failure on the eve of her Grand Slam title defense with the Chinese sports heroine frightened about closing out wins.

Li had a huge test at the weekend in the Rome final, which she reached as Serena Williams withdrew with back pain before their semi-final.

Li suffered a near disaster in her quarter-final, leading Dominika Cibulkova, going through 6-1, 5-2 but needing a tiebreak in the second to earn her victory.

“I’m not worried about the forehands or the backhands, it’s finishing the matches that is my problem,” said Li, the WTA number nine whose has not won a title since her Paris 2011 triumph.

“There is not one player out there who gives up in a match, everyone is playing at such a high level. That’s my problem – I need to win easier. It’s a big problem for me to close out the matches.”

The Chinese ace insisted that her form going into Paris which begins on May 27 remains solid. “I’m happy with how I’m playing now, finally we got onto a true clay court (after blue courts in Madrid last week. “I’m able to slide on it here. I feel ready for Roland Garros.”

Topics: Chinese tennis news sports, clay court tennis, Dominika Cibulkova, French Open 2012, Li Na, Roland Garros, Serena Williams, Tennis News