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LI Na wanted this, really wanted it.
After she was Australian Open runner-up in 2011 and 2013, winning last night's final against Dominika Cibulkova had been a long time in the making, in contrast to her breakthrough grand slam title at Roland Garros three years ago.
"I prepare this one for already two weeks, every round, every day I was think about what I should do," Li said.
"I prepare if I play semis what I should do, if I play final what I should do, because I already have twice in the final up here.
"In the French I was feeling I just go for it. I didn't think about win or lose. But this one, I really wish I can doing well. And also maybe you guys didn't know how hard I was working for the mentally to make this one."
China's Li Na shares a light moment with Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova. Picture: Saeed Khan. Source: AFP
The 31-year-old was pleased the Melbourne monkey was finally off her back.
"At least, you know, I make it, not like last two times, you know, always feeling one more step," she said.
"This time I really, so proud myself."
Coach Carlos Rodriguez said it would take a while for the victory to sink in.
"I don't realise yet, I think, I"m too much into it, maybe tomorrow," Rodriguez said.
"I really congratulate her."
Li's fellow players were in raptures on Twitter over her 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 win and her acceptance speech in which she thanked her coach for "always believing in me", agent Max Eisenbud for making "me rich", and husband Jiang Shan, "you a nice guy".
Even her opponent agreed she was a popular winner.
"I have to say she's one of the nicest players on tour," Cibulkova said.
"I really like her. I think everybody likes her sense of humor. She's a great player and a great champion."
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Cibulkova revealed she had only spoken to her parents in Slovakia via text over the past fortnight because she didn't call them after winning her first-round match and they were superstitious.
Neither parent could even bring themselves to watch the final on TV.
"My dad, he's too nervous to watch it but he was awake, for sure. My mum, she always watch the match after when they show it again," she said.
Cibulkova said it remained to be seen how her life might be different when she returned home, but she had changed markedly after her first appearance in a major final.
The 24-year-old now believes she can win a grand slam, starting with the French Open in May.
"I feel like my game is there to challenge the biggest names, you know, to beat them, so why not?" she said.
"Now I know I'm 100 per cent sure I can do it. I get so much confidence from this tournament."
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