Li Na credits her coach of her coach of nine months, Carlos Rodriguez, with strengthening her mental game. Since she began working with Rodriguez, former coach of Justine Henin, Li has risen to No. 5 in the rankings. She's won two titles and reached three finals, most recently at the Australian Open and Stuttgart.
"He didn't come with me in Stuttgart, so when I was here, so many people asked me: 'Are you still working with Carlos?' " Li told reporters in Madrid. “And I said, 'Of course.' I was so happy he could come onto my team to coach me. I think for me he's not only the tennis coach; I think after I was working with him I feel much stronger in my mind and also much stronger on the court. I trust him a lot.”