She is Asia’s best tennis player ever; yet many are calling her acceptance the funniest Australian Open victory speech ever.
Chinese tennis superstar Li Na gave a post-game speech that had fans roaring with laughter after her straight sets victory over Slovak Dominika Cibulkova: 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 in 97 minutes.
Winning her first Australian Open title after having featured in two others in the last three years, the two-time Grand Slam winner is the only Grand Slam singles champion from an Asian country—her first was at the 2011 French Open.
After thanking and congratulating the Australian Open organisers and wishing her opponent the best for the future, Li had fans warming to her tongue-in-cheek humour when she began thanking her team.
“Max, agent, make me rich. Thanks a lot!”
After thanking her physio, Li then turned her attention to her husband of eight years – as each of her statements was punctuated with ever louder and louder fan’s laughter and applause.
“Now, of course, my husband, he made famous in China.
“Thanks for him give up everything. He’s travelling with me to be my hitting partner; fix the drink; and fix the racquets. He do a lot of job.
“So thanks a lot, you’re a nice guy.”
Not content with the roaring laughter she capped it off.
“Also, you are so lucky [to] find me.”
