Uncertainty abounds heading into the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam event of the season, which begins next week in Melbourne. But one thing is for sure: There will be a different champion on the women’s side. Li Na, who won the Australian Open last year after being runner-up in 2011 and 2013, retired in September because of persistent knee problems. Li, who became the first Grand Slam singles champion from Asia when she won the French Open in 2011, reached a career high of No. 2 last year. Q. As the Australian Open gets closer, how do you look back at that tournament, given your run to the title last year, but also your previous success there? What was it that made it such a great place for you? A. I have always loved this tournament. players call it the Happy Slam, and it is, really, because of the great fans of Australia but also [tournament director] Craig Tiley, and everyone at Tennis Australia is so great and takes such good care of the players. I have always had a special connection with the fans there as well, and they have embraced me and [my husband] Dennis over the years. I feel a special bond with them like they really understand me. Q. How much of that success in Melbourne do you think came from the tournament’s attachment to the Asia-Pacific region? And how important was it for you to feel like you had a “home” Grand Slam event? A. It is definitely a little more special. I always felt like there were a lot of Chinese people coming to the Australian Open, so many Chinese flags there. My first Grand Slam semifinal also happened in Australia, and Chinese people got to know me very well from this event a few years ago. So this has always been my favorite Slam, and I am glad I can come back this year and be a part of it again. Q. How are you adjusting to life post-retirement? How has the business development been going, and have you enjoyed having a more steady home life without all the travel? A. Actually, I have been traveling quite a bit, but I have been enjoying it. Dennis and I have taken a few vacation trips. I went to New York to help Nike launch a new women’s training line and it was a great event with about 40 different athletes coming together. If I were playing, I wouldn’t have been able to do these things, so it was fun. And going to Shenzhen is always special. It is a great city and the tournament is special to me since I won it and [my management company] IMG puts it on and they have done such a good job here, so I want to support them and bring something extra to the Shenzhen fans. Q. Do you miss being in professional tennis? Do you think you will keep following the professional game? A. Right now I am having a great time doing all of the things I didn’t have time for when I was playing, like traveling and spending time with my friends. I don’t feel like I have really been away from it for too much since I have gone to a few tennis tournaments. I still follow what is going on, especially with the Asian players. It has been so exciting to watch Kei Nishikori play so well and carry the torch for Asian tennis. Q. What did you make of Nishikori’s move into the top five, and do you think he can be the same sort of pioneer on the men’s side in Asian tennis as you were on the women’s side? A. Kei is a very good player, and I think he will keep improving not just on court but also in his mind. He showed so much last year of his talent but also how mentally strong he is. I think this will be a big year for him and he will keep improving. He is a very hard worker and I am happy to see him do well. Really nice person, too! Q. How are your plans for an academy going? How close are you to finding a location, and have you decided more about the sort of philosophy you want? A. It is moving along fine. We have already narrowed down the choices and we are talking to the city that we will choose to build the first Li Na Tennis Academy with. Having said that, we are still receiving new offers from the different city governments these days. I want children to play tennis and receive a good education in the academy. They will have the freedom to choose if they want to turn professional or go academic. They can also just be like other kids: enjoy a normal childhood and the fun that playing sports brings to them. I also want to help the kids who love to learn tennis but do not have the money. We will work with big companies and set up scholarships for these talented kids and motivate them to strive for the best. It is still in early stages, so lots of work to be done. Q. What do you expect from this year of women’s tennis? Do you think Serena Williams will stay on top, or will a new face emerge? A. Serena is always tough. As long as she wants to be at the top, she will be, because she is such a good player with a mind of a champion. I think Maria Sharapova is going to have a great year — she is just so committed to the sport and will always give herself a chance. Petra Kvitova is definitely going to have a big year; she really worked on her fitness and has gotten so much quicker on the court. She is always the player to beat. It is nice to see younger girls playing well like Madison Keys and Garbiñe Muguruza; I see both of them as future Grand Slam champions. Madison is so talented and has a big future. There is a whole new generation of young players who are so talented and that is so great for fans to see. Definitely an exciting time for women’s tennis. 作爲本季第一項大滿貫賽事，澳洲網球公開賽將於下星期在墨爾本舉行，圍繞着這項賽事有很多不確定因素，但有一件事是確定的：女子賽事將會是完全不同的比賽。李娜於2011年和2013年兩次獲得該項賽事的亞軍後，於去年贏得澳洲網球公開賽的獎盃，隨即於9月因長期膝蓋傷勢而退役。2011年，李娜獲得法國公開賽冠軍，成爲第一個獲得大滿貫賽事冠軍獎盃的亞洲網球運動員，她在去年獲得世界排名第二，是她運動員生涯中的最好成績。 問：澳大利亞網球公開賽漸漸臨近了，你在去年獲得了這項賽事的冠軍，以前也在這項賽事上取得過佳績，你是怎麼回望這項賽事的？爲什麼它成了你的福地呢？ 答：我一直都很喜歡這項賽事，選手們都管它叫“快樂滿貫”，確實是這樣，因爲澳大利亞的球迷都很棒，（組委會主席）克萊格·泰利(Craig Tiley)也很好，所有澳洲網球公開賽的工作人員都很棒，他們非常認真照顧選手。我和這兒的球迷關係一直非常好，多年來他們一直支持我和（我丈夫）姜山。我覺得和他們關係特別親密，他們好像真的很理解我。 問：你覺得自己在墨爾本的勝利和這項賽事同亞太地區的密切關係之間有關嗎，感覺在大滿貫賽事中擁有一個“主場”是不是很重要？ 答：確實有點特別。我知道有很多中國人來看澳洲網球公開賽，所以場內有很多中國國旗。我第一次打入大滿貫半決賽也是在澳大利亞公開賽，中國人幾年前就已經通過這項賽事瞭解了我。所以澳洲網球公開賽一直是我最喜歡的大滿貫賽事，我很高興今年能夠回去，能夠再次參與其中。 問：你是如何調適退役之後的生活的？生意進展怎樣，你喜歡現在這種更穩定，不用到處奔波的家庭生活嗎？ 答：是的，我以前到處旅行，但我也很喜歡那種生活。我和姜山也做過度假旅行。我去過紐約，幫耐克推出一條新的女子訓練裝生產線，那是一個很大的活動，有40位運動員參加。如果我還在打球，我就沒法去參加這種活動了，很有意思。來深圳的感覺也一直都很不一樣。這是一個很棒的城市，這項賽事對我來說也很特別，因爲我贏得過這項賽事，（我的經紀公司）IMG參與了主辦工作，他們乾得很好，所以我想支持他們，給深圳球迷帶來點特別的東西。 問：你懷念職業網球生涯嗎？你會繼續關注職業賽事嗎？ 答：現在我過得很好，做着各種打球時沒時間做的事，比如旅遊，和朋友們在一起之類的。我覺得我並沒有真正離開職業網球，因爲我去過幾項賽事。我仍然在跟進網球界的事，特別是關於亞洲選手方面。錦織圭的出色表現讓人興奮，他接過了亞洲網球的火炬。 問：錦織圭打入世界排名第五，你怎麼看？你覺得他能在男子亞洲網壇發揮和你在女子亞洲網壇同樣的作用嗎？ 答：錦織圭是個很優秀的選手，我覺得不僅是場上的技巧，他的思想也會更成熟。去年他不僅表現出卓越的才華，而且讓世人看到他的意志也很強大。我覺得今年他會有所收穫，他還會繼續進步。他訓練非常刻苦，我很高興看到他的成績。另外他人也真的很好！ 問：你的辦學事業進展怎樣？找好地點了嗎？你覺得你的辦學方針會是怎樣的？ 答：一切順利。我們已經縮小了選擇範圍，正在和一個城市談，我們打算在那裏建立第一座李娜網球學校。說到這個，到現在我們還在不斷接到不同城市政府的邀請。我希望孩子們能在這個學校裏打網球，同時接受良好的教育。將來是從事職業網球，還是繼續求學，他們可以自由選擇。他們也可以像其他孩子們一樣，享受正常的童年，享受體育帶來的樂趣。 我也希望幫助那些想學網球但沒有錢的孩子們。我們會和大公司合作，爲有天賦的孩子設立獎學金，鼓勵他們努力做到最好。現在這些還在籌備階段，還有很多工作要做。 問：你對今年的女子網球有什麼展望，你覺得小威廉姆斯(Serena Williams)還會保持在首位嗎？還是會有新面孔崛起？ 答：小威一直很強。只要她願意，就能一直保持頭名，因爲她是個很優秀的球員，而且有着勢在必得的決心。我覺得瑪利亞·莎拉波娃(Maria Sharapova)今年也會很不錯——她一直在爲這項運動而努力，一直都在爲自己爭取機會。佩特拉·科維託娃(Petra Kvitova)今年也肯定會有上佳表現，她一直都在健身，而且速度提高了那麼多。她一直都是個有實力的選手。 看到麥迪遜·凱斯(Madison Keys)和加碧妮·穆古魯扎(Garbiñe Muguruza)這些年輕姑娘們表現出色也讓人欣慰，我覺得她倆都是未來大滿貫冠軍的有力競爭者。麥迪遜很有天賦，前途無量。新一代年輕選手都很有天賦，球迷們有福了。現在的女子網球真的非常令人興奮。
