Newly-crowned Australian Open champion Li Na glammed up and took her well-deserved trophy for a traditional photoshoot in Melbourne on Sunday, just about 12 hours after defeating Dominika Cibulkova in the final. The Chinese mingled with people on Brighton Beach, celebrating her second career Grand Slam title, her previous being the 2011 French Open.
The 31-year-old tennis star is famous for her spontaneous and funny speeches and one of my favorite parts of her victory speech is when she thanked her agent Max Eisenbud:
Max. Agent. Make me rich. Thanks a lot.
At the press conference the Nike-clad Li elaborated on how Max contributed to her financial welfare:
At least I have over 10 sponsor, especially after French Open. I think it’s little bit tough for him as well. China and American have jetlag. China company didn’t care about that. They just call him middle of the night, so it’s very tough.
Li also thanked her husband Jiang Shan, to whom she’s been married since January 27, 2006 (notice that today/tomorrow is their eighth anniversary!):
My husband, even famous in China. Thanks for him [to] give up everything, just traveling with me to be my hitting partner, fix the drinks and fix the rackets. So thanks a lot. You’re a nice guy. And also you are so lucky to find me.
And if you happen to be conscious about your age, here’s encouragement from Li, who is now the oldest Australian Open champion:
Yeah, start of tournament everybody talking about the age. I would like to say age is nothing. Still can win the Grand Slam. So pretty happy about my age. I got more experience on the court.
I actually got up at 2:30 in the morning to watch this in Texas. Really was happy for her..such a big fan of Li Na.
Jim, Li really is one a of a kind. Great inspiration and such a sweet person.