Victory speech draws big laughs
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, January 26, 2014
Li Na had fans roaring with laughter during her Australian Open victory speech yesterday as she thanked her agent for making her rich and gave damningly faint praise to her long-suffering husband.
The Chinese star, who secured her second grand slam title in her third Australian Open final, fired out the jokes after overcoming a tense first set to beat Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (3), 6-0.
"To Max my agent, you made me very rich. Thanks a lot," was her first line, directed at agent Max Eisenbud in her players' box.
She also thanked her coach Carlos Rodriguez and her physio before turning to her husband Jiang Shan, her former coach and often the butt of her jokes.
"And of course, my husband. He's even famous in China," she said.
"So thanks for him giving up everything, traveling with me to be my hitting partner, fix the drinks and fix my racquets.
"He does a good job so thanks a lot. You are a nice guy," she deadpanned. "Also, you are so lucky to find me."
Li also admitted "you guys think I talk too much," before walking off with the trophy.
Li has frequently poked fun at her husband in public, hitting out at everything from his snoring to his cooking skills.
Asked later whether Jiang ever grew tired of being ridiculed, she replied: "If he says, ‘Enough,' I think we will divorce."
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