Li Na says it has been an immensely tough thing for her to get completely separated from tennis after being attached to it for two decades.
The previous season was Li Na’s last one on the Professional tour as she retired in the middle of it.
She was actually not old enough to call it a day, but, because of the fact that her body had not been able to endure all the pressure at the highest level, she quit.
While, she has physically gone away from the action completely, she is still there mentally. There is still that competitiveness inside her. She misses being a professional player. She wants to go out there on the court again and fight for points.
In her interview to a website, Li said, “It would be a lie if I tell you that I don’t miss it. I surely miss it. Tennis was my habit which I pursued for a very, very long time. To get away suddenly has been difficult. But, it was not possible for me to continue either. I had been on injections and had to go through so many surgeries. So, it was the right decision. You see even today, my knee has had to go through medical treatment.”
Li emerged as a role model for the kids in Asia when she achieved French Open glory.
For an Asian female player, to gain that sort of success, it was a huge thing and it was the result of that achievement of Li that the Asian kids got inspired to start playing tennis on a large basis.
There have been so many talented Asian players coming through the ranks in the recent times and a lot of credit for that goes to Li.