simona halep

Li Na: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

"Because after they beat you, they think, ‘Oh, I beat a Grand Slam champion.’"

Chinese tennis star, Li Na, reacts after her opener loss to Romanian teenager, Simona Halep. The French Open champion has struggled in the latter part of the season. Na lost 2-6, 5-7 in straight sets, her second successive exit in the first round at the tournament.

Na said:

"Before the match, I talked to my coach. I said I didn’t have good timing to hit the ball. He told me everything is perfect, everything is fantastic.”

"I say, ‘Yes, everything is fantastic, but I always lose first round.’

"This is not fantastic. I think we need to change something. I think maybe the coach just tried to give me confidence, but I don’t think I got it."

What she really meant:

“I’m a treasured scalp—a trophy in itself.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“If they lose to you, they think, ‘Oh, it’s OK, I lost to a Grand Slam champion.’”