Li Na Avoids Taking Political Questions

Written by: Staff on 24th September 2012

Li Na Avoids Taking Political Questions

epa03377365 Na Li of China hits a return to Laura Robson of Great Britain during their match on the fifth day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 31 August 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/JASON SZENES |

At the age of 30, Li Na appreciates she is now in the veteran stage of her tennis so the former French Open champion is this week in Tokyo and turning a blind eye to a worsening diplomatic situation between China and Japan, admitting: “There’s not much time left so I have to work even harder.”

Li is this week contesting the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, regardless of the growing animosity to the Chinese in Japan over the deepening political crisis between the two countries over the uninhabited but nevertheless disputed Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands in the South China Sea.

The Japanese government’s decision to nationalize some of the islands triggered angry protests across China, many turning violent.

Japanese businesses shut hundreds of stores and plants across China and Japan’s embassy in Beijing again came under siege by protesters hurling water bottles, waving Chinese flags, and chanting anti-Japan slogans, evoking war-time enmity.

At press conferences over the weekend Li adamantly refused to answer any questions on her participation in the $2,168,400 Premier event on the WTA calendar, in which she reached the semi-finals in 2009.

China had earlier withdrawn badminton players from last week’s Japan Open and Japan pulled out of the second leg of the Asian Rugby Sevens Series in Shanghai. Japanese cyclists were also barred from competing in the Tour of China and even a doping control officer from Japan was asked by organizers to leave the country.

Li, who has a history of disagreement with Chinese tennis authorities, would only agree that she is now competing with a new positive attitude and gave thanks to her new coach Carlos Rodriquez, who had been based in Beijing working for Justine Henin’s tennis academy.

“I want to stand up again,” said Li who has dedicated herself to work much harder under the guidance of Rodriquez. “My ex-coach (husband Jiang Shan) didn’t do a good job. It’s very tough to be a coach and a husband. It’s very tough to find the right balance.

“My goal is to reach the end of year WTA Championships in Istanbul,” she added. “I’ve reached number eight so I’m pretty close.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Chinese tennis news, Japanese tennis news, Li Na, Sports, Toray Pan Pacific Open, women tennis news, WTA Champions