The 26-year-old answered through a translator in her post-match press conference, but her bright smile when asked about her feelings needed no translation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cRight now, we\u2019re pretty pleased,\u201d said Li, who also successfully defended her doubles title with Wang Ziying at Melbourne Park.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
De Groot secured four straight AO titles from 2021 to 24, but the Dutch player acknowledged she was no match for the No.3 seed, who was the runner-up to Yui Kamiji in last year's US Open final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWow, first of all a big congratulations to Li \u2014 you really destroyed me today I had no chance. You really played well, and I\u2019m sure you\u2019re going to be in many more finals, so let\u2019s see if I can make a better one next time,\u201d de Groot said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Li ended de Groot\u2019s winning streak in 2024 and credited her strategy for her season-opening success, securing the silverware on Saturday with a backhand winner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn general, both of our pace are at the same level. [I] tried to stay in the same pace. Whenever there's a chance giving her pressure, then I tried to take the point away. For the last season, the strategy wasn't really super clear, like, in general. Then this year we got more problem-solving everything, so the strategy is clearer than the last year. We\u2019re improving more on the strategy part,\u201d Li said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Li ended de Groot\u2019s winning streak in 2024 and credited her strategy for her season-opening success, securing the silverware on Saturday with a backhand winner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI have to see it as an achievement that I\u2019m in the final today, back after one-and-half-years of absence. I\u2019m really proud of that for myself and my team. [Coach] Dennis [Sporrel] and I have worked hard to prepare for this trip, and the outcome was better than we initially imagined. Playing on Kia Arena is such an amazing feeling. The way we started wheelchair tennis it\u2019s only fair to say we\u2019ve come a long way and are still growing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n