China’s Zheng Qinwen was inspired by Li Na’s 2014 triumph but Belarusian opponent is defending champion in Melbourne
Ten years ago, Li Na finally secured the title she had coveted for so long. While the Chinese trailblazer’s first major triumph at Roland Garros in 2011 produced a completely unexpected, iconic moment in the history of tennis, the Australian Open was her labour of love. Li had already reached two finals in Melbourne, twice suffering brutal three-set defeats, before she finally won the tournament of her dreams in 2014.
Among the tens of millions of people who watched Li’s second triumph in China, one future star was transfixed. At 11 years old, Zheng Qinwen had already spent over three years of her life training in Wuhan, Li’s home city, a five-hour drive away from her hometown of Shiyan. She would spend her youth trying to retrace her idol’s footsteps; Zheng eventually headed to Beijing, where she trained under Li’s former coach, Carlos Rodriguez.