London, June 24: China`s Li Na is facing a battle of
the tattoos in the second round at Wimbledon, but said if she
had her way, her controversial body art would be wiped off.The number 19 seed has a design etched on her chest --
something which was not universally well received in her
homeland, where tattoos have long been considered taboo.
She faces Belarussian world number 82 Olga Govortsova,
who has three stars tattooed on her inner left forearm, in her
quest for a third round spot at Wimbledon.
However, though tattoos are growing in acceptance in
China and Li has finally become comfortable showing it off on
the tennis court, she said might get tired of seeing it.
"So many people ask me about my tattoo," Li said.
"It`s a rose with a heart. I`ve had it eight years now.
Before, I always wore tape, I didn`t want to show the tattoo. In China, if they see people have a tattoo, they only think
maybe she`s not so good a person."
But after her sportswear manufacturer said they had no
problem with her revealing it, she decided to take the plunge
and be positive about showing it off.
"But the next day after I showed it for the first time,
in China, they said I have a tattoo of a snake!" the
27-year-old said.
"I want to take it off because maybe after a long time
seeing it you get tired. But it`s not really easy to take
off."
She added: "Also, my husband, he doesn`t like it. I said
I have tatoo and he said no, don`t make a joke. For one day,
he didn`t talk to me."
Li made the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2006 and feels
she is running out of chances to top her best-ever Grand Slam
performance.
The right-hander feels this year could be her best shot
at going all the way in a major.
"I got to the quarter-final already so I want to get to
the semi-final or final. I want to do better than before," she
said.
"I know I`m not like a young girl who has more chance to
play many years. Right now if I lose this time, I lose a
chance."
Li eased into the second round with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-0
victory over Kazakhstan`s Galina Voskoboeva yesterday.
She was taken to a tie break in the first set but her
opponent, ranked 89 in the world, crumbled in the second to
lose in an hour and 14 minutes on Court 6.
Li beat her next opponent Govortsova in the French Open
third round this year, but will not be looking any further in
the Wimbledon draw to see who else stands in her way.
"I don`t want to see how the draw is going, just play the
first round, second round and then see how far I can go on,"
she said.
Bureau Report