China's Li adjusting to Grand Slam fame
China's Li Na said on Tuesday she has adjusted to her off-court demands after becoming the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam last year.
World No 5 Li struggled in the second half of 2011 after her landmark victory in the French Open at Roland Garros, crashing out in the second round at Wimbledon and bundled out of the US Open in the opening round.
Her humiliating first round exit to a qualifier at the China Open in Beijing in October was harshly received by local media and fans.
But Li, defending her Sydney International title this week, believes she has now come to terms with the expectations of being a reigning Grand Slam champion.
"After the French Open I couldn't concentrate on the court any more because I had to do so many things off the court," she said.
"I couldn't just practise or something. Sometimes if I practised, so many people would come to ask me questions, to do an interview, photo shooting. This was a really tough half year for me.
"But now I totally understand what I should be doing on the court."
Li, 29, said she was getting accustomed to her fame since beating Italy's Francesca Schiavone at Roland Garros.
"Yeah, of course now I'm getting more famous. Many people know who I am," she said.
"Right now I don't feel any pressure, because right now is the start of the new season and I just look forward to playing," she added.
Li fought back from dropping the opening set to get past South African Chanelle Scheepers 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Sydney International on Tuesday and will face Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.