Li Na to stick with her husband as coach for London Olympics – Tennis News
China’s top player, Li Na, has said she would not hire a foreign coach for London Olympics. The world number eight added she will keep her husband, Jiang Shan, as her coach.
Talking to the China Daily, LI told, "I don't know why the media are so interested. Maybe you are not confident in Jiang and my current team. Up to now, I haven't had any intention of recruiting a foreign coach. I hope the media
won't ask about it again."
Jiang was Li’s coach when she reached the Australian Open final last year, losing to Kim Clijsters of Belgium in a three set thriller.
The Chinese replaced her husband with Danish Fed Cup Captain, Michael Mortensen, for the coaching duty and the latter guided her to the French Open title last year. However, Jiang was given back the responsibility again after the
2011 US Open.
The Wuhan, China resident faced a slump in her form after winning the French Open, as she is yet to win any title this season. However, the 5ft 7in tall shared that she is confident for the Olympics.
She added, "Compared with reaching the final at the Australian Open last year, people may feel a little bit disappointed about my results this year. But I think my form is okay right now and I have no regrets so far."
Li has already planned her schedule around London Olympics this season. She revealed after the French Open, she would not play at any event until Wimbledon. After Wimbledon, the right-hander would go back to her home country for
a couple of days and then head to see her doctor in Germany.
The Chinese added that she would reach London one week prior to the start of Olympics to get used to the grass courts. The 30-year-old thinks that this could be her last Olympic Games, that is why she does not want to have any
regret later.
Li will be taking part in the Olympic Games for the third time in her career. She has been unable to win any medal yet, getting ousted in the third-fourth position playoff match at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
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