Li puts Chinese tennis on map_英文原版

 


li, 24, is competing at this week's china open in beijing. but her "revolution" reaches beyond the court and into the chinese tennis system.

li's frank, if sometimes controversial, personality has challenged the chinese tennis system to reform. in 2005, she called on tennis authorities to allow players to keep more of their prize money.

"it would be good if a player's performance was connected with her income," she said. li argued this would push more chinese players towards greatness.

the tennis administrative centre (tac) has listened.

"players now can get as high as 65 per cent of their prize money," said tac director sun jinfang at a press conference last saturday. "we are also setting up the 'breaking through' prize to encourage players."

li, who turned professional in 1999 at age 17, certainly falls into that category.

before upsetting french player mary pierce at the us open on september 4, li had been meeting similar success at other grand slam events.

at the australian open, li forced us star serena williams to a third set. at the french open she made it to the third round. at wimbledon, li reached the quarterfinals.

with all of this success, her opponents have been taking notice.

"she's improving with every month," russian star maria sharapova said before their us open meeting. "she's a very tough and solid player. great mover on the court."

indeed, li is playing good tennis. and she barely has time to catch her breath.

"the china open is followed at heel by the guangzhou international open," li told xinhua. "it seems hard for me to slow down for break."
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grand slam: 大满贯

bonus points

catch one's breath: 喘息，歇一口气

after a long day at work, he returned home and fell on his bed so he could catch his breath. 工作了一整天之后，他回到家倒在床上歇口气。

follow at heel: 紧跟着，紧接着

the morning's meeting was followed at heel by lunch and then by another meeting in the afternoon.

上午的会议完了之后紧接着是午餐时间，然后马上开始下午的另一个会议。

li na's factfile
age: 24
home: wuhan, hubei
turned pro: 1999
world ranking: