Na Li is the Australian Open champion ⋆ The Baltic Review

[notice noticeType=”info”] Na Li with the trophy | Tennis Australia Photo, © by Ben Solomon[/notice]

It was amazing Australian Saturday night yesterday (January 25th) for the 31-year old Chinese who won for the first time in her career the title in Australia. In the final Na li who is ranked fourth in the WTA rankings faced a young Slovakian talent, the 24-year old, Daniela Cibulkova. It was close only one single set. Then, there was only one tennis player. The champion, Na Li who won 7-6, 6-0.

Li who is the first Chinese racquet will celebrate next month her 32nd birthday was the first female tennis player who won the Australian Grand Slam after age of 30 since Margaret Court did it at 1973. It was her third final. At 2011 and 2013 Li reached the final but failed to win the title.

Since the beginning of the game Cibulkova, who considered as the surprise of the tournament, showed to Na Li, that she is going to fight and not to give up to world number four. But the power for the Slovakian was enough until the tie break. There, the more experienced Na Li, won the set. Li, who is the Roland Garros Champion at 2011 lost only one set during the whole tournament and she wanted that it will remain like that.

During the second set was only one tennis player on the court and it was the Chinese, who won it with one sided score 6-0. After one hour and 37 minutes on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Na Li celebrated her second Grand Slam title in her career.

After the match, the fresh champion gave one of the amazing winner speeches in tennis when she said: “Now I have to thank my team. Max, agent, make me rich, thanks a lot,” she smiled as the crowd broke out in laughter and continued; “OK, now, of course my husband (who is) even famous in China. So, thanks for him he give up everything just to travel with me to be my hitting partner, fix the drink and fix the racquets, so he do a lot of job. Thanks a lot, you’re a nice guy. Also you are so lucky (that you) found me!” finished Li her speech when the all crowd in the arena laughing and giving a standing aviation to Li.

Na Li speech after the winning the Australian Open