Li Na bids for a successful title defence at Roland Garros – Tennis News
Chinese number one, Li Na, received a lot of appreciation for becoming the first Asian to win a singles Grand Slam title at the Roland Garros French Open; beating the likes of the defending champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy,
in straight sets last year.
She stamped her authority and acquired the status of a celebrity with her monumental achievement; broke into the Top-10 players of the world and stayed there until date. She might have slipped a couple of places to number seven
in the world but her biggest test starts next week when she will commence her title defence in Paris, France.
Li won all her singles rubbers in the Hopman Cup and reached the final of the Apia International Sydney to begin her season with. She reached the fourth round of the Australian Open but lost the former world number one, Kim Clijsters.
However, she helped her country to win the Federation Cup tie by winning all three of her rubbers matches. The major disappointment was her performance in the Open GDF Suez where she lost had to retire through an injury in the first round. Four successive
quarter-final exits in Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Madrid Open frustrated her a lot but she managed to sneak her way into the finals of Italian Open; however, failing to win the final set tie-breaker against the defending champion, Maria Sharapova.
It has been a topsy turvy tournament for the Chinese superstar but the good news is that she has been reaching the advanced stages of almost all tournaments. However, the psychological pressure of not performing in Paris earlier
this year in the hard courts tournament must be a major factor that can affect her performance.
She is desperate to revive her form and there can no place better than Paris because she needs to defend the two thousand points she earn last year. However, the competition is such that her chances of repeating the heroics are
minimal especially with the likes of the world number two, Maria Sharapova, and the former world number one, Serena Williams, coming back in form and thrashing their rivals brutally.
The draw will also decide her luck. If she gets a stronger contender is the opening round, she might not handle the pressure and fail to defend her title. However, if she begins well against the minnows, she is in with a chance
to surprise everyone for the second year in succession.
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