24 | Wednesday, December 5, 2018 CHINA DAILY SPORTS TENNIS Li shows Peng has kudos for Carlos he still Star’s comeback “I have to understand the person behind the player. You see how com­ inspired by famed mitted she is and how hard she tries. Argentine coach You like to be part of that. Although I has fire cannot travel with her, at least I can help her enjoy tennis again.” By SUN XIAOCHEN After helping Belgium great Jus­ By SUN XIAOCHEN [email protected] tine Henin win seven major singles titles between 1995 and 2008, Rod­ Despite struggling in the shad­ It’s back to the future for China’s riguez began working with Li in ow of younger compatriots for mercurial Peng Shuai. July 2012 and helped the aggressive years, veteran Li Zhe on Sunday Coming off a three­month sus­ Chinese star climb to world No 2 proved it’s too soon to write him off pension and under the tutelage of and claim her second Grand Slam as one of China’s male tennis elites Li Na’s former mentor, Peng is title in Melbourne in 2014. by winning his first Grand Slam poised to return to the Grand Slam Li credits the Argentine’s tough wild card in Zhuhai, Guangdong spotlight at next month’s Austra­ training and fitness regimens as province. lian Open. well as his focus on players’ mental Entering the final of the 2019 Aus­ Four years after the end of his stability with bringing out her best tralian Open Asia­Pacific playoff as highly regarded mentorship with at this late stage in her career. the underdog, Li overcame a first­ the legendary Li, Argentine coach After becoming the first Asian to set scare to beat China’s top men’s Carlos Rodriguez is working with win a major at the 2011 French player Zhang Ze 1­6, 7­6, 6­4 to win Peng, who nailed down a main­ Open, Li found it difficult to refocus his first career entry into the main draw spot in Melbourne by winning on her game while carrying the pres­ draw of a major. the Asia­Pacific wild card playoff in sure from home fans and media. At age 32, Li, who lost playoff Zhuhai, Guangdong province, on She stumbled through 18 months finals in 2014 and 2017, will be the Sunday. China’s Peng Shuai, coming off a three­month suspension, nailed down a main­draw spot at next of mediocre play before Rodriguez oldest Chinese player to make a Peng was leading 6­2, 1­0 in the month’s Australian Open by winning the Asia­Pacific wild card playoff in Zhuhai, Guangdong prov­ arrived to help put her career back Grand Slam singles debut when he final when opponent Chang Kai­ ince, on Sunday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY on track. competes in Melbourne next Chen of Chinese Taipei withdrew Rodriguez said it’s critical to month. with an injury. focus on mental rejuvenation after “I‘m so excited that I can’t hold Peng’s suspension was imposed because of his effort and commit­ a player takes a big hit like Peng’s back my emotions after finally by the Tennis Integrity Unit in ment to help a player improve, no suspension. breaking through after trying for so August for an attempt to change matter the situation.” “The three months off could be a many years,” a tearful Li said at the her doubles partner after the sign­ Peng started to train with Rodri­ good thing for her,” he said. award ceremony in Zhuhai. in deadline for Wimbledon last guez at his tennis academy in an “The most important thing is to “At least I proved I am still com­ year. eastern Beijing suburb right after accept what happened and never petitive at my age. It’s a great release The ban would likely have been she was hit with the ban and she look back. I have to help her look of a lot of pressure. Now I hope to career­threatening for any player, has since had won two tourna­ forward, and that’s been challeng­ enjoy my first appearance at a but the 32­year­old credits Rodri­ ments, including an entry­level ing for her.” Grand Slam, no matter who I play in guez’ support as her inspiration to WTA event in Houston, Texas. Peng expects to draw enough Melbourne.” press on. Rodriguez, who has focused on energy from working with Rodri­ Li, China’s second­highest­ranked “He is like a grandmaster who is running his academy after parting guez to drive her long enough for a player at world No 255, joins top ace so wise and experienced to handle ways with Li in July 2014, said he third Olympic run, after represent­ Zhang (No 220) and Wu Di (No 348) all situations in the game, even after won’t be able to travel with Peng ing China at the 2008 (Beijing) and as the third male from the Chinese I approached him for help,” said but has designed a strict training 2012 (London) Games. mainland to enter a Grand Slam Peng, who in October was world No and competition schedule for her. “I wish I could have met him ear­ main draw. 298 — her worst ranking in a decade. “It’s interesting to help somebody lier,” said Peng, a semifinalist at the Wu won the inaugural wild card “I was expecting a cold shoulder overcome such a challenge ... not 2014 US Open. playoff in 2012 at 21 to enter the 2013 from him due to the ban and all the necessarily to win but at least help “But no matter what the future Aussie Open before Zhang, 28, made controversy, but he embraced me her be healthy and happy on the holds, I will try to enjoy the time his Melbourne debut the following with open arms. I trust him not just court. That’s what it’s all about,” Peng Shuai reacts to comments from Argentine coach Carlos Rod­ working with him and hopefully I year, surviving through qualifica­ because of his previous experience said Rodriguez, who flew to Zhuhai riguez after winning the Asia­Pacific wild card playoff in Zhuhai, can qualify for the 2020 Tokyo tion rounds. In 2015, Zhang quali­ with high­ranking players, but to watch Peng on Sunday. Guangdong province, on Sunday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Olympics.” fied as a wild card winner..