Retired Olympic tennis champion Li Ting is likely to pick up the racket again for her hometown in the next Chinese National Games, said Li's former coach Yu Liqiao on Saturday.
"Li Ting is an excellent player, who deserves credits due to her hard work in the past, and it is a pity for her retirement, but everybody has to make choice at some stage," said Yu, a former Chinese national tennis champion, at the on-going Sixth Chinese City Games held in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province.
The 50-year-old was known for her coaching knacks by bringing up Li Ting, the Athens Games tennis doubles champion, and Li Na, the current female number one of China, when both of the Wuhan- born players were younglings in the provincial team.
"However, our team never rule out of the possibility that she might be coming back to Team Hubei for the 11th National Games in 2009," said Yu, also a Wuhan native.
"As a veteran, Li Ting, who has been in this line for more than ten years, could make special contributions to her hometown. We are always open to her and she also talked to me about returning to court again, that's positive."
Li and her women's doubles partner Sun Tiantian stunned the world in 2004 Athens Games, winning for China the first-ever gold medal in tennis, beating Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual from Spain 6-3, 6-3 in the final.
Following them, the Chinese girls highlighted the world tennis courts over the past three years characterized by Zheng Jie/Yan Zi's doubles titles in the Australian Open and the Wimbledon in 2006.
However, Li seemed to be less aggressive in career after the triumph at the Athens Olympic Games and has saw her form plummet since. She had to retire this Spring at the age of 27 after the national team leaders and coaches put blame on her on several occasions.
"It is too early for a player like Li to retire at her age, but things are quite complicated, we have to respect the player's choice," added Yu.
Li, now a student in Beijing Sports University, made her rare appearance at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Chinese City Games on Thursday, serving as one of the six torch runners, all of whom are Olympic or world champions coming from the central China's province.
"It is equally hard to study in university and play tennis, but I wish I could read more and catch up with the world," Li told Xinhua ahead of the opening ceremony.
Due to the tight study schedule, Li only spent a couple of days with family before she left for Beijing.
"Studying in the university will do good to her as she could get maturer with the experience," said Yu.
"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get. Anyway, if Li comes back, I would feel great to be her coach again."
Source: Xinhua
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