Injury-hit Chinese tennis star Li Na will re-launch her Olympic ambitions at two events in Australia next month, state media reported Wednesday.

China's top-ranked women's player, who has been sidelined since May, will play the Australian Women's Hardcourts tournament and the Australian Open as she sets her sights on Olympic glory, the China Daily said.

"I am more motivated now and I feel my desire for the Olympics is bigger than ever before," the 26-year-old was quoted as saying.

Li was 16th in the world last January, her best ever position and the highest by a Chinese player, but suffered a rib injury during a pre-Wimbledon warm-up event.

That forced her to pull out of the Grand Slam tournament and sent her on a downward spiral that lasted months, seeing her drop 13 places to 29th in the rankings.

"I just cannot believe what happened to me in the summer," Li said in Guangzhou, southern China, where she is training.

"They were really dark days for me," she added. "I was anxious and just kept on asking people when I could come back. But what I got is just wait and wait."

The previous year's Wimbledon was the scene of Li's greatest triumph, when she became the first Chinese player ever to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam tournament.

That year Zheng Jie and Yan Zi also wrote their names in the record books by taking China's first ever Wimbledon title in winning the women's doubles.

Both Li and Zheng, who has also suffered a series of injuries this year, are on their way back. China's national team coach Jiang Hongwei said Li would need about six weeks to regain her form.

"I know I won't get back my form very soon, but I am not in a hurry," said Li.

Meanwhile Zheng, 24, has also been passed fit for Australia after winning the China Tennis Grand Prix doubles title last week with Yan, her first event since June.


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Hey everyone!!! Im back! not sure if you may remember me, but a Li Na fanatic! i sort of hid away depressed when Li got injured, but now she is back; im back too! She is due to play at Gold Coast, Sydney and Austrailian Open!
She has dropped from 16th last Jan, to 29th now, as she hasn't played since birmingham. Alot of points to defend this half of the year, especially at Sydney, AO, IW and Miami!

GOODLUCK LI NA! KEEP HITTING THOSE WINNERS!

Hey Jack, I wondered where you were. I noticedi i was your birthday I think recently, I was gonna wish you a good one but thought you had gone. Welcome back and hope you had a good B'day and Xmas :ok:

great to hear about Li Na. Hope she does her homeland proud. :D

haha thanks yeah, birthday on xmas eve :P bit of a bummer

Li is drawn to Bammer, who beat Li at 3rd round of French Open... but this is on hard court... i think Li will get her revenge!

did you get 2 pressies off folks or just one big one for both occasions Jack?

Good to see you back by the way :D

just the one :P money ! they actually left me the day before my birthday to go back to Hong Kong :P, while im left here in England alone! :P

ANYWAY! Li is the only chinese girl left in the Main Draw! Zheng Jie made it to the last round of qualifying, which is good, as she played 3 great matches i've heard!
Come on Li!!!!

also, where is the gold coast tournament thread?!?! i see none :o