I want more, declares Open champion Li Na
No longer a one-slam wonder, Li Na says age is no barrier and hopes more tennis majors are to come.
A month shy of her 32nd birthday, Li is the oldest Australian Open womenâs champion in history following her breakthrough 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 final triumph over Slovakian surprise packet Dominika Cibulkova.
Liâs popular victory comes almost three years after Chinaâs tennis pioneer became her countryâs first-ever grand slam singles champion at the 2011 French Open.
Bouncing back after losses to Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka in two previous title matches at Melbourne Park, Li also joins world No.1 Serena Williams (17), Venus Williams (7), Maria Sharapova (4), Svetlana Kuznetsova (2) and Azarenka (2) as only the sixth active multiple grand slam champion in womenâs tennis.
âYou guys didnât know how hard I was working for the mentality to make this one,â she said.
But she says sheâs not finished yet.
Needing a Wimbledon crown and US Open title to complete a rare grand slam set, Li admits winning all four âwould be the bestâ.
Five months younger than top-ranked Williams, the Asian superstar insists age doesnât matter.
âAt the start of tournament, everybody was talking about the age,â Li said.
âI would like to say age is nothing. Still can win the grand slam.
âSo pretty happy about my age. Iâve got more experience on the court.â
Off court, too, with Li believing sheâs better equipped second time around to deal with the pressure and demands of being a grand slam champion.
âBecause first time, to win the French Open, I really didnât prepare for that,â she said.
âI didnât know what I should do after the win. Also nobody tell me what I should do.
âI think now is different because I prepared to win the grand slam.
âAlso (coach) Carlos (Rodriquez), he has a lot of experience because before he was coaching for Justine Henin.
âWe will talk about what we should do, of course.â
Apart from celebrate her eighth wedding anniversary on Monday with husband and former coach Jiang Shan, Li will leapfrog Sharapova to rise to No.3 in the world and says she and Team Li love defying the odds.
âWhen like last year, I say I want to be top three, nobody believe,â she said.
âBeginning of this year, I say I want to win another grand slam title; nobody believe.
âMore important is I believe, Carlos believe, my team believe. Thatâs all.â
Liâs only defeat in her past 17 matches came against Williams in the final of the season-ending championships in Istanbul. One more title and sheâll climb above world No.2 Azarenka in the rankings as well.
âI will try to improve my ranking. Yeah, why not? Of course,â she said.
âI think I can improve. So many people think about, `maybe she will stay the same way forever.â But I will change.
âI will continue to try the new thing if they can help my game.â
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