During Zheng’s incredible run at the Australian Open, Chinese legend Li Na pays her an unexpected visit

Qinwen Zheng, 21, experienced a pleasant surprise when former Australian Open champion Li Na paid her a visit after advancing to the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time on Saturday. The positive news for the Chinese number one continues as Zheng secured her spot in the second week with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 victory over compatriot Wang Yafan on the same Rod Laver Arena court where Li had lost the finals in 2011 and 2013 before claiming the title in 2014.

“I was extremely happy to meet her and have the opportunity to talk with her because I had never spoken with her in person. That was truly special for me,” Zheng shared with reporters.

“I believe she is even more beautiful in person than on TV. She advised me, ‘don’t overthink it, just keep it simple.’ I think that’s what I need to focus on right now.”

Having relocated to Li’s hometown of Wuhan for training at the age of eight, Zheng expressed that she had watched her idol defeat Dominika Cibulkova in the 2014 final at least 10 times.

Li’s victory marked the first by a Chinese or Asian player at Melbourne Park, and while Zheng’s chances of replicating such success are still modest, they have been significantly boosted by a thinning of seeds in her quarter of the draw.

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The 12th seed is set to face world number 95 Oceane Dodin in the next round, and the winner of that match will meet either Italian 26th seed Jasmine Paolini or world number 75 Anna Kalinskaya in the quarter-finals.

During a period when China was making substantial investments in tennis as part of a government initiative to develop a multi-billion dollar sports industry, the Australian Open positioned itself as the “Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific.” It continues to be the tournament most akin to a home Grand Slam for Chinese players, and Zheng expressed that she has sensed the support of her compatriots on the court this week.

“The Australian Open has a considerable number of Chinese fans, so I sense a home-like atmosphere as the crowd is more supportive of me,” she expressed. “In the US Open, it’s more evenly split, sometimes favoring the opponents, sometimes