‘Age is nothing’, says resurgent Li

BEIJING – Chinese tennis star Li Na has insisted “age is nothing” and put retirement talk on hold as she eyes next season with rising confidence after a resurgence she credits to her new coach, Carlos Rodriguez.“I am excited for next season. I think I will be more positive,” Li, who will be 31 in February, said at the China Open.“Age is nothing. Right now I am feeling healthy. I can still run on the court. I’m still top in the world. Why I should stop? I should continue my dream and just keep going.”The 30-year-old enjoyed an impressive run in Beijing, reaching the semifinals and securing her participation in the $4.9 million end-of-season WTA Championships in Istanbul later this month.Li, who made the semifinals of the Premier Mandatory event in Beijing for the second time and improved on last year’s humiliating first round defeat, is now on track to finish in the world’s top 10 for the second year in a row.Li has struggled with consistency since becoming Asia’s first Grand Slam-winner at the French Open last year, but she credited her recent mini-revival to the appointment of Rodriguez.

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‘Age is nothing’, says resurgent Li