Li Na sent a teenage prodigy packing for the second successive round at the Australian Open and then discussed this week’s revelations that she considered quitting the game before Wimbledon last year.
The Chinese player ended up having the most consistent season of her career in 2013 and finished the year ranked third in the world.
But, in an interview with Melbourne newspaper The Age, Li revealed she told coach Carlos Rodriguez on the way to London from Eastbourne last summer that she wanted to retire.
She decided to play at Wimbledon and see how it went, and a run to the quarter-finals persuaded her to continue.
She said: “It wasn’t about how I hit the ball on the court it was about so many things off the court. But I was really happy I did well in Wimbledon, so that’s why I’ve continued. Otherwise, I don’t know where I would have been now.”
Li cited negative media coverage in her home country after she was knocked out of the French Open as her main off-court frustration.
Those days now appear far behind Li, who deserves to be regarded as a title challenger after two final appearances in Melbourne, most recently last year when she lost to Victoria Azarenka.
The fourth seed was first up on Rod Laver Arena yesterday against 16-year-old Swiss Belinda Bencic, having knocked out another 16-year-old, Croatian Ana Konjuh, in the first round.
Li had little trouble against Konjuh and it appeared it would be the same again but Bencic gave notice of just what a talent she is by fighting all the way before going down 6-0 7-6 (7-5).
Bencic is coached by Melanie Molitor, the mother and former coach of Martina Hingis, and Li said: “She played exactly like Martina Hingis.
“I was really happy in the end I could use my experience to win the match.”
Bencic beat 43-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm in round one for her first win in the main draw at a Grand Slam, and she loved playing on the big stage.
“It was an amazing feeling,” she said. “I always watched on TV and I always said I wanted to play there and today I played there.”
Serena Williams wasted little energy in winning her second round match 6-1 6-2 against Serbia’s Vesna Dolonc.
Temperatures again hit 40 degrees Celsius, and the world No 1 said: “It was tough conditions out there. I think it keeps getting hotter.
“I’m just drinking a lot, making sure I stay hydrated.”
Next up the American meets 31st seed Daniela Hantuchova, who needed more than three hours to see off Karolina Pliskova 6-3 3-6 12-10.
Great Australian hope Sam Stosur delighted the crowd by thrashing Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2 6-0 and will next meet 14th seed Ana Ivanovic in the standout match of the third round.
Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki said she had been beaten by the heat after a 2-6 6-2 6-2 loss to Monica Niculescu of Romania.