MELBOURNE – Li Na’s memorable achievement in becoming Asia’s first Grand Slam finalist put Chinese tennis firmly on the map at the Australian Open, and made her a big winner despite defeat to Kim Clijsters. Li led Saturday’s final against the world number three, before Clijsters switched tactics to close out a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory for her fourth Grand Slam title, and her first outside the US Open.
Mother-of-one Clijsters, 27, had gone into the tournament as the firm favourite in the absence of injured defending champion Serena Williams, and she duly delivered with a gutsy and intelligent win over Li. But if “Aussie Kim” — Clijsters’ Australian nickname since her previous engagement to Lleyton Hewitt — was a popular winner, the funny and charming Li equally won hearts on her way to the runner-up spot.
Meanwhile Saturday’s final received blanket media coverage in China, despite tennis’s relatively low profile, prompting Li to dream of a Russian-style boom in the world’s most populous nation. “I hope after three to five years maybe China will be like Russia and have many players coming through,” she said.
Russia had 18 women in the singles draw at Melbourne, while China had just three: Li, Peng Shuai and Zhang Shuai. China’s tennis chief hailed Li as a “pioneer” and drew comparisons with basketball superstar Yao Ming and idolised hurdler Liu Xiang, as the Wuhan native’s face adorned major Chinese newspapers and websites.
