hina's Peng Shuai will continue to seek out her former coach, former French Open champion Michael Chang, for advice even though the two have stopped working together.
World No. 45 Peng said at a press conference Tuesday for an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong that she was grateful for Chang's help and will continue to ask him for advice.
``He can't be with me all the time now, but when I run into problems about technique or my psychology, we can still stay in touch. Even though he's not my coach, it doesn't mean we can't communicate,'' she said.
``He gave me new ideas about my technique and tactics in competition.''
Chang stepped down as Peng's coach in November, saying he couldn't commit to traveling with her full time.
Peng was reportedly fined by the China Tennis Association for walking out during the women's singles final of the domestic Chinese Grand Prix Cup last month. The South China Morning Post reported Peng was upset over umpire calls and smashed her racket against the wall before walking out of the match.
But Peng said Tuesday she pulled out of that match because she was sick with a cold.
She wouldn't confirm if the China Tennis Association punished her, only saying, ``just like any friends, we'll have different opinions''.
``Our hopes are the same. We both want to improve our results,'' she said.
WorldInternational
Tue January 1, 2008 04:08 EST
HONG KONG (AP)
Tennis player Peng Shuai of China attends a press conference a day before the JB Group Classic 2008 tennis event in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. The JB Group Classic will be held from Jan. 2-5 at Hong Kong Victoria Park.
(AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
hina's Peng Shuai will continue to seek out her former coach, former French Open champion Michael Chang, for advice even though the two have stopped working together.
