Former world champion hurdler Liu Xiang, whose repeat heel injury foiled his comeback at the London Olympics, also praised his compatriot. "Don't be sad 'Sister Na'. There is no regret, just pride. You've lived beyond yourself. The best is yet to come," wrote Liu on his micro blog.

During two weeks at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Li moved tennis fans across the world with her humor, feisty personality and heartfelt performance on court.

Colorful antics

From joking about her age by pointing out that she is younger than her on-court interviewer, to confessing that she dispatched her snoring husband to another bedroom, Li's colorful antics never disappointed the fans.

"She's not from my country but she's an Asian representative. It makes me proud to see an Asian player doing so well at the AO, and she is so funny all the time," said Chin Awe-yeong, a fan from Malaysia, interviewed at courtside after watching Li's semifinal against Maria Sharapova.

Kevin Hutchison, a doctor from Scotland, echoed that sentiment: "It's the first time I've seen her play, but if she's played that well throughout her career, it's probably why (so many foreigners root for her). The way she talks is very entertaining and (she's) good to watch," said Hutchison after watching the final on an open-air screen with friends and a few beers at Melbourne's Federation Square.

After winning the 2011 French Open to become Asia's first Grand Slam singles champion, Li became a household name in China. She has also been rated as the world's second-richest sportswoman by Forbes magazine, behind only Sharapova.

The victory saw Li, who boasts more than 15 million followers on her micro blog, commemorated with a bronze statue in her home city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. Meanwhile, a string of lucrative endorsements prove that she is now one of China's most-recognized athletes, alongside former NBA star Yao Ming and hurdler Liu.

Li receiving medical attention during her match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday. [Photo/Agencies]