In Some Tournament Cities It Is Easy To Not Spend Money

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 21st June 2013

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

In Some Tournament Cities It Is Easy To Not Spend Money

epa03719934 Na Li of China in action during her 1st round match against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 27 May 2013. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Li Na finds herself with time on her hands in the sleep South coast venues of Eastbourne, with little to do off court save practice and eat out.

For the Chinese ace, the down time can be a drain, even if she has her husband along on the summer grass season trip.

Second seed Li is the highest player standing in a WTA field which traditionally seems to lose its leading seeds in the early stages at the last tune-up chance prior to Monday’s start of Wimbledon.

But the former French Open winner is working to keep focused on the immediate job at hand before turning her attention to the grass of the All England Club.

“Every player wants to win the tournament, there is no one who comes here and says ‘I want to lose first round. Everyone has chances at the start.”

Li admits that the town best known for its mass of pensioners pales in comparison with most other worldwide tennis venues. There are not many tournament cities where restaurants are filling up a 6 pm for discount meals.

But the seed has her routine down pat after getting off court at Devonshire Park: “Take some relax in the afternoon, go for massage, go back to the room, talk to friends on the internet. There is nothing to do here but I still have to concentrate on the tournament. And then we go to dinner – Chinese.”

With the lack of activity, eating takes on a special meaning, with Li, as usual; calling the dining shots. “I try lots of different Chinese food, but I prefer one of them (restaurants). We’ve gone twice in a row already,” said Li, absolutely ruled out trying the local specialty of fish and chips.