The husband and coach of Li Na, Jiang Shan, celebrates after she won her semi-final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, in this Jan 27, 2011 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

* Li Na reaches first semifinals after Melbourne with new coach

ROME - Li Na's recent decision to appoint Denmark Fed Cup captain Michael Mortensen as her new coach was the right move despite the fact it meant ditching her husband Jiang Shan, the world number six said on Monday.

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The Australian Open runner-up endeared herself to the Melbourne crowd in January by declaring she would love her husband-cum-coach even if he was "fat and ugly".

Three months later, however, the Chinese player decided to start afresh with Mortensen and the pair made a promising start to their tennis alliance when she reached the semifinals of last week's Madrid Open.

"I don't care what other people think. My confidence was low and I felt I had to change my coach," said Li at the Italian Open. "After Melbourne I didn't do well and if you don't do well you don't have confidence."

Li suffered four straight first-round defeats before making Mortensen her new coach.

"The relationship has been good. We're communicating well and he's told me to trust myself," said the 29-year old.

"I'm not a young player so I know my body and what I can do on the court. We are focusing more on the mental side as I feel I need someone to support me."

Seeded four in Rome, Li will start her campaign against Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez Lino who came through a three-set match against Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova on Monday.