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No tennis ‘divorce’ for China’s Li
China’s top tennis player Li Na has blasted media scrutiny of her Olympic preparations by insisting she will not be giving her hen-pecked husband-coach the boot for this year's London Games.
China’s top tennis player Li Na has blasted media scrutiny of her Olympic preparations by insisting she will not be giving her hen-pecked husband-coach the boot for this year's London Games.
The reigning French Open champion, who has always had an uneasy relationship with the Chinese media, will stick with Jiang Shan and not hire a foreign coach, she told the China Daily.
“I don't know why the media are so interested,” said the outspoken 30-year-old. “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,” said Li, who often pokes fun at her husband in interviews.
“I hope the media won't ask about it again.”
Jiang guided Li to the final of last year's Australian Open, where she lost a tough three-setter to Belgium's Kim Clijsters. Danish Fed Cup captain Michael Mortensen took over and helped her win the French Open title but Jiang was reinstated after the US Open.
Li's form dipped after becoming Asia's first grand slam winner in Paris, although the player expressed confidence ahead of the Olympics.
