China superstar Li Na has a new man in her life and her husband couldn’t be happier. Ever since Li linked up with Justine Henin’s former coach, Carlos Rodriguez, earlier this summer, her career has been reinvigorated with a runner-up spot in Montreal followed by a title in Cincinnati. It’s a success that meant an end to her on-off coaching relationship with husband Jiang Shan, but Li insisted on Monday that her marriage, as well as her career, have both benefitted.
“After I got a new coach I think for both me and my husband it’s much easier,” said 30-year-old Li after reaching the US Open second round. “Love is love; coach is coach. You have to separate. After I changed the coach, I didn’t say my husband didn’t do a good job. I think he’s still doing good job.
“But for both sometimes it’s too much, you know. Like it’s really tough to find a balance between coaching and husband.” Li’s triumph in Cincinnati was her first title since her landmark 2011 French Open victory, and her good form continued on Monday when she eased past 20-year-old Briton Heather Watson 6-2, 6-3 to make the second round at the US Open. It was her first win at Flushing Meadows since her tournament-best performance of a quarter-final run in 2009. Ninth-seeded Li, who goes on to tackle Australia’s Casey Dellacqua for a place in the last 32, believes her win over the 2009 US Open junior champion Watson, was also a victory for mind over matter.
“I am 10 years older than her, so I got more experience on the court. She played very good, but sometimes I had to show her how good I am,” explained Li, whose dominance was illustrated by 28 winners to Watson’s 10. “So maybe I was putting a little more pressure onto her. If she looks at me (she knows) I have always been there, so maybe that’s a little bit tough for her. “I should use that against all the young players because they just come to the tournament and maybe they think, ‘Oh, she’s tough’. Also some girls, they give up in the mind.” Heavy rain scuppered Li’s plans for a quickfire win when a downpour sent the players off Court 17 for more than two and a half hours with the Chinese star 5-3 up in the second set.
Nishikori looks to inspire Japanese youngsters
NEW YORK: Japan’s highest-ever ranked tennis player, Kei Nishikori, hopes his breakthrough performances can help wean his country’s youngsters off their love of football and baseball. The 18th-ranked Nishikori, one of a record four Japanese men to make the main draw at the US Open, reached the quarter-finals at this year’s Australian Open, the first man from his country to achieve the feat. He also reached a career-high ranking of 16th in March. “Hopefully, one day tennis can be big. There’s me and Kimiko (Date Krumm) used to be in the top, but still soccer and baseball are the two biggest sports. I’d like to see tennis to get major,” said the 22-year-old. Nishikori reached the second round of the US Open on Monday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Argentine qualifier Guido Andreozzi, a welcome victory after suffering two injury-forced withdrawals in the first round in 2010 and 2011. Compatriot Hiroki Moriya, who qualified for the main draw, saw his campaign ended by Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 6-0, 6-1, 6-2. That left Go Soeda, who faces American 23rd seed Mardy Fish, and Tatsuma Ito, up against Australia’s Matthew Ebden, as the other two remaining Japanese men in the draw.
