LI NA hopes her success in reaching the Australian Open final will inspire more Chinese people to pick up a tennis racket.
Li became the first player from China to reach a final of a grand slam singles event, saving a match point on her way to ousting world number one Caroline Wozniacki in a titanic three-set encounter.
A topsy-turvy deciding set could have gone either way but Li prevailed 3-6 7-5 6-3 and will now play Kim Clijsters in tomorrow’s final.
Clijsters proved too strong for Vera Zvonareva, beating the Russian 6-3 6-3.
Li said: “I think possibly because I have got to the final, maybe young children will see that and think ‘maybe one day I can do the same or even better than her’.
“Perhaps also the authorities will start to look more at tennis.”
