Li plans Oz Open comeback

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 told the state-run newspaper.

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.