The coach of Li Na has said that the Chinese tennis star has developed a better understanding of the reasons why she decided to play on after threatening to retire just over seven months ago.
Li had confirmed in an interview that she did not want to continue in the sport that delivered a Grand Slam title at the 2011 French Open, earned her an estimated 18.2 million dollars in 2013, and has guaranteed her mega stardom in China.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, although coach Carlos Rodriguez is not certain if Li would really have retired as she threatened to do so, however, he believes that as the Australian Open finalist made the decision to play on, she has developed a better understanding of the reasons why.
Rodriguez said that instead of trying to talk Li out of her decision, he had told her to leave the sport if she had lost her passion and her love for the game, adding that she had made enough money to live the rest of her life in comfort and luxury.
Rodriguez further said that many players do not really understand the reason why there are so passionate about the game and work so hard to improve it, adding that fortunately for Li, she has discovered her reasons for staying in the court in time.
For Li, the latest vindication, and reward, is a place in her third Melbourne Park title bout in four years, as a heavy favourite for the first time, against Slovakian 20th seed Dominika Cibulkova.
Rodriguez believes Li is a more stable player 12 months on, one who can still start brilliantly, but prevent herself from falling away so deeply as she has the capacity today to keep the ball in when she is not in the good position to hit winners and much better adaptability and emotional endurance to support the stress. (ANI)