Morning lie-in

Lying in bed until 10:30 in the morning, enjoying home cooking and spending time with friends in coffee shops allowed her to recharge, and Li was all smiles in Eastbourne, where she was seeded second.

Tennis was not even a subject of discussion with her mother, she said. "She doesn't like to watch my matches because she says it make her nervous. I think she watches but she will never tell me.

"She was pretty happy (to see me), it doesn't matter to her if I am doing well or doing badly."

Twice an Australian Open finalist, Li has never done better than the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, in 2006 and 2010, and lost in the second round last year.

"Grass is a good challenge," she said. "And when the tournament starts, everyone is the same. I will really try as much as I can."

"Big Sister Na", as she is known at home, has long cut a lonely figure in Chinese tennis, with only Peng Shuai, ranked 24th, and Zheng Jie, 47th, also in the world's top 110 women players.

Things might, however, soon change, she said.

"I see a lot of very good junior players (at home)," she said. "But they still have lower rankings, they can't play higher level tournaments. You still have to give them time to let them grow up.

"I always believe that in future there will be great players from China."

More stories about Li Na's Wimbledon matches:

Li Na edges Zakopalova to reach last 16

Li Na holds nerve to enter last-32 at Wimbledon

Djokovic, Williams, and China's Li win openers

'Crazy' Zheng lifts burden off Li Na