Li Na vows to simply enjoy tennis after earning shot at Australian Open
World No 6 has 'nothing to worry about' after thrashing Sharapova to take a huge step towards winning her first Australian Open title
A smiling Li Na has pledged simply to enjoy her tennis after earning a second shot at the Australian Open title, two years after being outgunned by Kim Clijsters.
The Chinese world No 6 said she did not feel the pressure of 2011, when she reached her first grand slam final at Melbourne Park and raised expectations to stratospheric levels in her home country.
And after doing the hard work in training, Li, who stunned Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-2 in the semis yesterday, said she had nothing to worry about in tomorrow's final, when she will face defending champion Victoria Azarenka.
"Right now, what should I worry about? I worked so hard in winter training. I think now everything is just down to me," said Li. "So I go to the court, pick up my racquet, enjoy the tennis."
Li, 30, has been a revelation under her new coach Carlos Rodriguez, former handler of seven-time major-winner Justine Henin, and she has already taken one title this year, in Shenzhen.
In Melbourne, the 2011 French Open champion has ousted four seeds on the way to the final including world No 4 Agnieszka Radwanska, who was on a 13-match unbeaten run.