MELBOURNE, Australia – Li Na's resounding 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 victory against Dominika Cibulkova in Saturday's Australian Open final gave the Chinese player her first title here after runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2013 and her second Grand Slam title.
A few things we've learned during the fortnight:
Li is improving with age
Li, then 28, wilted under the pressure of gaining her first Grand Slam title, at the 2011 French Open. Her game spiraled out of control and she failed to win more than two matches in a row the rest of the season.
After hiring Justine Henin's former mentor, Carlos Rodriguez, in July 2012, the hard-hitting Li has tweaked her game (even changing her grip on certain shots), improved her fitness and most of all learned to handle expectations.
Saturday, Rodriguez said that it's "going to be a little bit tricky at the beginning" for Li after her second Grand Slam title. But he is cautiously optimistic she would not repeat her 2011 implosion, especially as she put in the hard yards to get back to this point.
"I hope that the work that has been done before and after allow her to at least see things more clear," he said.
MORE: Li Na dominates women's Aussie Open final
Li admits she was blinded by the attention after her Roland Garros victory. Before the tournament she had more than 22 million followers on Chinese social media. Who knows how many she has now.
"I'm sure I don't have to waste half a year again," the wisecracking Li told a small group of reporters Saturday evening. "I think I'm strong now. I don't have to worry about what (people) say. At least I have to understand what I need to do on the court."
That mentality could push Li, the highest ranking Asian in history, to No. 3 on Monday and even further up the rankings and to more major titles in 2014.
The young ones are coming
A crop of bright stars is encroaching on the established guard.
Eugenie Bouchard during her match against Li Na at the Austrialian Open.(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard reached the semifinals, the second year running that a player under 20 made the last four Down Under. Sloane Stephens, now 20, did it a year ago and reached the fourth round again – her fifth consecutive last-16 or better at a major.
Also on the rise: The USA's Madison Keys, 19; Croatia's Ajla Tomljanovic, 20; Puerto Rico's Monica Puig, 20; Britain's Laura Robson, 20 and Spain's Garbine Muguruza, 20, who reached her first Grand Slam fourth-round here.
Romania's Simona Halep, 22, who advanced to the last eight in Melbourne, won six titles in 2013, more than any woman but Serena Williams.
Bouchard, 19, might be the best of the batch. She showed tremendous poise before falling to Li in the semifinals.
"I was impressed with how, after losing the first set to Li, she raised her game," said 18-time major winner Chris Evert. "She was slugging it out. She was bold, like, 'I'm going to hit with you.' She has more emotional maturity than the other girls."
Maturity still rules
Once ruled by teenagers, women's tennis is no longer pixies in pigtails.
Li is 31. Reigning U.S. Open and French Open champion Williams is 32.
Just three of the last 19 majors were won by women younger than 25 -- Petra Kvitova at the 2011 Wimbledon and Victoria Azarenka at the 2012-13 Australian Open.
"It's an older women's sport," says former No. 1 doubles player and commentator Rennae Stubbs. "It's more aggressive and physical and as you get older you get stronger. That's what you're seeing. Then again, we have a young crop that's banging on the door. I think it's great for women's tennis that we have two different ends of the spectrum."
More questions
No. 4 seed Li was not an unexpected winner, but the Australian Open opened the way for more intrigue at the sport's next big gathering in March for outdoor hardcourt events in California and Florida.
Serena Williams tweaked her back at the Australian Open this past week.(Photo: Aaron Favila, AP)
*Seventeen-time major winner Williams, coming off her best season since 2002, tweaked her back in Melbourne and lost to Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round. Will health be an issue?
*Maria Sharapova reached the last eight in just her second tournament since August but looked average in a three-set loss to runner-up Cibulkova.
*Two-time defending champion Azarenka played well in spots but lacked tape-to-tape consistency. Ditto her quarterfinal conqueror Agniezska Radwanska, who followed up her big win with a flat performance in the semifinals.
*After a strong autumn, former No. 2 Kvitova made a first-round exit to 88th-ranked Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand.
Which is to say, many plot lines for the months ahead are just starting to take shape.
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