1 Jan 2012

French open champion says slump caused by surge in status

10:47 am on 1 January 2012

The French Open tennis champion Li Na has blamed her form slump on a surge in status created by the grand slam win

The Chinese has beaten Marion Bartoli in three sets on the opening day of the Hopman Cup in Perth to ease a dismal run of form since becoming the first Asian to win a grand slam lastJune.

Li Na says after Paris she was distracted by off-court commitments, triggered by new-found fame,and suffocated by public attention in her homeland.

Consequently Li won only seven of 16 matches for the rest of last season.

But she says she has had a a good off-season in Munich and her New Year's resolution is to win another grand slam.