My dear friends,
For close to fifteen years, weve been a part of each others lives. As a tennis player representing China on the global stage, Ive trekked (遠足;跋涉) around the world playing hundreds of matches. Youve always been there for me, supporting me, cheering me on, and encouraging (鼓勵) me to reach my potential (潛力).
親愛的朋友們:
近15年來,我們都是彼此生活的一部分。作為一名代表中國在國際賽場上征戰(zhàn)的網(wǎng)球運動員,我經(jīng)歷了上百場的比賽。這期間有你們一直陪在我身邊,支持我,鼓勵我,激勵我發(fā)掘自己更多的潛力。
Representing China on the tennis court was a true honor. Having the opportunity to bring more attention to the sport of tennis in China and all over Asia is something I will cherish forever. But in sport, just like in life, all great things must come to an end.
在網(wǎng)球賽場上代表中國,是我至高無上的榮譽。通過這樣的機會,我希望能夠吸引更多的關(guān)注到中國甚至全亞洲的網(wǎng)球運動中,這也將會是我一生的事業(yè)。但是,即便如此,職業(yè)生涯就像是人生,它們都會有終點。
2014 has become one of the most significant (重要的) years in my career and my life. This year was full of amazing highlights (最突出的事物), which included winning my second Grand Slam singles title (大滿貫單打冠軍頭銜) at the Australian Open and sharing the extraordinary (非凡的;特別的) experience with my country, my team, my husband and my fans. It was also a year filled with difficult moments, such as having to deal with the inevitable (不可避免的) thing—making the decision to end my professional tennis career.
2014年是我職業(yè)生涯乃至人生中最重要的年份之一,充滿了亮點。在2014澳大利亞公開賽上,我取得了女單冠軍,贏得了個人第二座大滿貫。我很高興我能夠把這份特殊的喜悅和經(jīng)歷與我的祖國、我的團隊、我的丈夫及我的球迷共同分享。但同時,這也是艱難的一年,需要面對很多不得不面對的事情,例如做出結(jié)束我網(wǎng)球職業(yè)生涯的決定。
The amazing moment in Australia was filled with joy, happiness and extraordinary sense of accomplishment (成就). The task of finally making a decision to hang up my racquet (球拍) felt a lot more difficult than winning seven matches in a row in the Australian heat. It took me several agonizing (使人苦惱的) months to finally come to the decision that my injuries will never again let me be the tennis player that I can be. Walking away from the sport, effective immediately, is the right decision for me and my family.
在澳大利亞的時光固然充滿了喜悅、幸福,以及一種特殊的成就感。但做出放下球拍的決定,比在澳大利亞的高溫中連續(xù)贏下7場比賽要艱難許多。在之前我苦惱了幾個月,最終,傷病讓我不能再像以前一樣。盡管我做出了百分之百的努力去爭取參加第一次在我家鄉(xiāng)舉辦的比賽,但是,作為一個職業(yè)的網(wǎng)球運動員,現(xiàn)在離開賽場對我來說是最正確的決定。
Most people in the tennis world know that my career has been marked by my troubled right knee. The black brace (支撐物) I wear over it when I step on the court has become my tennis birth mark. And while the brace completes my tennis look, the knee problems have at times overtaken (突然來襲) my life.
很多朋友知道我右膝的傷病一直“伴隨”著我的職業(yè)生涯,每當我踏入賽場時,人們都會看到我右膝處的黑色護膝,它就像我胎記一樣。盡管我對它已習以為常,但膝蓋病發(fā)還是會時不時讓我疼痛難忍。
After four knee surgeries (手術(shù)) and hundreds of shots injected into my knee weekly to alleviate swelling and pain, my body is begging me to stop the pounding. My previous three surgeries were on my right knee. My most recent knee surgery took place this July and was on my left knee. After a few weeks of post-surgery recovery (術(shù)后恢復), I tried to go through all the necessary steps to get back on the court.
我的雙膝已經(jīng)經(jīng)歷四次手術(shù)。同時,為了減輕膝蓋的腫脹和疼痛,我每周還需要接受注射治療,至今已經(jīng)有上百次了。前三次手術(shù)都是在我的右膝,最后一次在7月份的手術(shù)是我的左膝。而現(xiàn)在,我的身體再也承受不起任何重創(chuàng)。最近那次手術(shù)之后,即使經(jīng)歷了幾周的術(shù)后恢復,我也用盡了每一絲的力氣,試圖回到賽場。
While Ive come back from surgery in the past, this time it felt different. One of my goals was to recover as fast as I could in order to be ready for the first WTA (國際女子職業(yè)網(wǎng)聯(lián)) ?tournament (聯(lián)賽) in my hometown of Wuhan. As hard as I tried to get back to being 100%, my body kept telling me that, at 32, I will not be able to compete at the top level ever again. The sport is just too competitive, too good, to not be 100%.
但是,和以前術(shù)后重回賽場相比,這次不一樣了。這次我的目標之一是盡快痊愈,為將在我的家鄉(xiāng)武漢進行的WTA網(wǎng)球公開賽做準備。但哪怕我用盡自己全部的力量,我的身體卻一直告訴我,32歲的我,再也不會在行業(yè)的最高水平中競爭了。網(wǎng)球這項運動的競爭激烈,對運動員要求完美,而我,再也不能回到從前百分之百的狀態(tài)了。
Winning a Grand Slam title this year and achieving a ranking (排名) of World No. 2 is the way I would like to leave competitive (比賽的;競技的) tennis. As hard as its been to come to this decision, I am at peace with it. I have no regrets. I was not supposed to be here in the first place, remember? Not many people believed in my talent and my abilities, yet I found a way to persevere (堅持), to prove them (and sometimes myself?。?wrong.
贏得大滿貫,獲得世界排行第二名,這是我選擇帶著這樣的榮譽離開網(wǎng)球賽場。盡管做出這一決定的過程非常艱難,但是我對發(fā)生的這一切都很平靜,不會后悔。一開始沒人想到我會出現(xiàn)在這里,你們記得嗎?最初有很多人不相信我的天賦和能力,但是我最終證明了他們(有時甚至是我自己)是錯誤的。
Ive succeeded on the global stage in a sport that a few years ago was in its infancy (起步階段;初期) in China. What Ive accomplished (完成;達成) for myself is beyond my wildest dreams. What I accomplished for my country is one of my most proud achievements.
網(wǎng)球這項運動這些年在中國發(fā)展得非??欤F(xiàn)在我已經(jīng)在這項運動的世界舞臺上取得了成功。我所獲得的成就遠遠超出了我的夢想,為國家獲得的榮譽也是我個人最驕傲的成績。
In 2008, there were two professional womens tennis tournaments in China. Today, there are 10, one of them in Wuhan, my hometown. That to me is extraordinary!Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova—with thirty Grand Slam singles titles among them—are coming to my hometown to play tennis for the fans of China! Just as I didnt think I could ever be a Grand Slam champion, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that some of the best female athletes in the world could play tennis in Wuhan, in my backyard.
2008年,中國只有兩項專業(yè)女子網(wǎng)球賽事。今年,中國已經(jīng)舉辦了10個專業(yè)女子網(wǎng)球賽事。其中一場就在我的家鄉(xiāng)——武漢。屆時會有包括威廉姆斯姐妹、莎拉波娃等球星參賽,她們將帶著贏得過30座大滿貫單打冠軍的榮譽來到我的家鄉(xiāng),為中國球迷們帶來精彩的比賽。就像我從來沒想過能獲得大滿貫一樣,我也從來沒有想到有一天,世界最著名的女子運動員能夠來到武漢,來到我的家鄉(xiāng),為大家?guī)砭始姵实木W(wǎng)球比賽。
My contributions (貢獻) to the growth of the sport in China are very special to me. But I dont want to stop here. Together with my management company, we are putting together various plans on how we will continue to grow the sport of tennis in China. These plans include opening the Li Na Tennis Academy (學校), which will provide scholarships (獎學金) for the future generation of Chinese tennis stars. I will also stay involved in the Right to Play, an organization for helping underprivileged (窮困的) children overcome challenges through sport.
能為中國體育發(fā)展做出微薄的貢獻,對我自己而言也有特殊的意義。就此,我不會停歇,我將和我的經(jīng)紀公司一起,制定各項促進中國網(wǎng)球發(fā)展的計劃。包括開辦“李娜網(wǎng)球?qū)W校”,學院將會為下一代的中國網(wǎng)球明星提供獎學金。另外,我也會參與“Right to Play”兒童樂益會公益組織,致力于幫助生活貧困和身處困境的兒童和青少年,幫助他們通過體育戰(zhàn)勝困難。
On a personal side, I look forward to starting a new chapter (章;節(jié)) of my life, hopefully having a family and reconnecting with those I did not have the luxury (奢侈) of spending a lot of time with while playing. I cant wait to revisit all the amazing places I played tennis in and see the world through a new set of eyes. I look forward to slowing down and living my life at a new, slower, relaxed pace.
個人方面,我非常期待開始我人生新的篇章。我希望能多花一點時間和家人在一起,以前打球的時候這些事兒都是很奢侈的,現(xiàn)在我想盡力去彌補我的家人。我等不及想再去一遍那些我曾經(jīng)打過球的地方,這一次不用比賽,而是用一雙不同的眼睛看看這些可愛的地方。我期待著在一個讓人放松的地方安靜地開始和家人的新生活。
Tennis is an individual sport and as players, our job is to spend a lot of time focusing on (聚焦;關(guān)注) ourselves. But no player can ever become a champion alone and nobody knows this better than me. There isnt enough space to thank everyone who has traveled on my journey with me and contributed to my success. But I must thank those that have stuck with (跟著……) me through the highs and the lows and have helped me become the person that I am today.
網(wǎng)球是一項個人運動,作為網(wǎng)球運動員,我們的工作就是花很多時間關(guān)注自己的狀態(tài)。但是,沒有人比我更清楚,沒有一個運動員能夠只靠一個人的力量成為冠軍。這里由于篇幅有限,不能對陪伴我走過職業(yè)生涯、對我的成功付出汗水的人們一一表示感謝,但是我必須感謝那些無論高潮還是低谷都陪伴著我的人,是你們成就了今天的我。
When I started playing tennis, I was just a neighborhood kid with an after-school hobby, not realizing what magical journey lay ahead of me. If I only knew what a vehicle (交通工具) the sport of tennis, along with my success, would become for my beloved (親愛的) China. While my journey hasnt been easy, it has been rewarding (值得的;有報酬的). Ive seen change happening in front of my eyes, young girls picking up tennis racquets, setting goals, following their hearts and believing in themselves. I hope that Ive had the opportunity to inspire young women all over China to believe in themselves, to set their goals high and pursue them with self-belief.
我最開始打網(wǎng)球的時候,只是一個鄰家小女孩,打網(wǎng)球只是我的課余愛好,我完全沒有想到我面前有如此神奇和美好的網(wǎng)球之旅。當時誰能想到網(wǎng)球?qū)τ谖覔磹鄣淖鎳馕吨裁茨兀考幢阄业穆殬I(yè)旅程并不是一帆風順,但是它還是值得的。我看見變化就在我眼前發(fā)生,小女孩拿起網(wǎng)球拍,制定目標,跟隨她們的內(nèi)心并且相信自己。我希望我的經(jīng)歷和故事能夠激勵更多的中國年輕女孩,讓她們?yōu)樽约涸O(shè)立目標,并相信自己。
Whether you want to be a tennis player, a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher or a business leader, I urge (主張;驅(qū)動) you to believe in yourself and follow your dream. If I could do it, you can too! With hard work, your dreams will come true!
無論你想成為網(wǎng)球運動員、醫(yī)生、律師、老師還是一個商人,我都希望你相信自己,追隨自己的夢想,堅持到底。我能做到,你也可以!只要努力,最終一定會實現(xiàn)自己的夢想!