Li stands on threshold of history
Source: Agencies |
January 29, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
After making history, Li Na turned on her cell phone and found 44 text messages. Friends, family, fellow players, sports officials and the media were cheering her accomplishment at the Australian Open as a big step for the 28-year-old's career and potentially a giant leap for China.
When Li walks onto center court at Rod Laver Arena today for the championship match it will be the first time a Chinese player will play in a grand slam singles final.
Before hoisting the trophy, however, Li will have to overcome Kim Clijsters, a three-time US Open champion who has long yearned to win in Melbourne. The 27-year-old Belgian has extra motivation to win this year, which she says could be her last Australian Open.
Bright-eyed, full of humor and savoring her moment in the spotlight, Li said she was amused by the avalanche of messages on her phone. She also said she was not fully aware of the reaction back home, and never reads news about herself to avoid seeing negative comments that could make her "angry or sad."
There's not much negative news at the moment. "Li Na makes history entering the Australian Open final" cheered the front page of the Beijing News. Inside, the tabloid ran almost two pages of coverage on Li's semifinal upset over No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday.
Chinese tennis federation head Sun Jinfang was widely quoted as hailing Li as China's newest international sports star, joining the ranks of Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang.
"There is always a pioneer pushing things forward in her time and Li is a sporting pioneer of her time," Sun said.
Li received a text message from Sun which read: "Well done. (when) you come back, I pay (for) dinner" to which Li replied: "What? Only dinner?"
"My best friend just called me. She was crying on the phone," Li said, pretending to cry and hyperventilate at the same time. "I was like, 'OK, take it easy. What do you want to say? Just calm down.'"
"I was feeling, maybe amazing day for the friends, for my family, for me," Li said.
The WTA is banking on Li's success to help spur the growth of tennis in China. "Li Na's breakthrough performance will propel the popularity of women's tennis forward exponentially in the China market," WTA Chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster said. "Women's tennis is already one of the fastest growing sports in China thanks to the celebrity status and success of Li Na and her compatriots."
Clijsters has beaten Li in four of their six matches, but Li won the most recent match only two weeks ago in Sydney.
"I beat her last time," Li said, but it "doesn't mean anything here. I know it's a tough match."
When Li walks onto center court at Rod Laver Arena today for the championship match it will be the first time a Chinese player will play in a grand slam singles final.
Before hoisting the trophy, however, Li will have to overcome Kim Clijsters, a three-time US Open champion who has long yearned to win in Melbourne. The 27-year-old Belgian has extra motivation to win this year, which she says could be her last Australian Open.
Bright-eyed, full of humor and savoring her moment in the spotlight, Li said she was amused by the avalanche of messages on her phone. She also said she was not fully aware of the reaction back home, and never reads news about herself to avoid seeing negative comments that could make her "angry or sad."
There's not much negative news at the moment. "Li Na makes history entering the Australian Open final" cheered the front page of the Beijing News. Inside, the tabloid ran almost two pages of coverage on Li's semifinal upset over No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday.
Chinese tennis federation head Sun Jinfang was widely quoted as hailing Li as China's newest international sports star, joining the ranks of Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang.
"There is always a pioneer pushing things forward in her time and Li is a sporting pioneer of her time," Sun said.
Li received a text message from Sun which read: "Well done. (when) you come back, I pay (for) dinner" to which Li replied: "What? Only dinner?"
"My best friend just called me. She was crying on the phone," Li said, pretending to cry and hyperventilate at the same time. "I was like, 'OK, take it easy. What do you want to say? Just calm down.'"
"I was feeling, maybe amazing day for the friends, for my family, for me," Li said.
The WTA is banking on Li's success to help spur the growth of tennis in China. "Li Na's breakthrough performance will propel the popularity of women's tennis forward exponentially in the China market," WTA Chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster said. "Women's tennis is already one of the fastest growing sports in China thanks to the celebrity status and success of Li Na and her compatriots."
Clijsters has beaten Li in four of their six matches, but Li won the most recent match only two weeks ago in Sydney.
"I beat her last time," Li said, but it "doesn't mean anything here. I know it's a tough match."
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