Zheng ended up crushed by nemesis Aryna Sabalenka in the decider but this year will hope to go one better and join Li as the second Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Li's achievements gave rise to predictions of Chinese superpowerdom in women's tennis fuelled by a generation of young girls inspired to pick up rackets.
Ten years on from the twice Grand Slam champion's retirement it has not quite come to pass but China is well-represented at the highest levels, with four women in the top 100.
Zheng, ranked fifth in the world and seeded fifth at Melbourne Park, is the standout among them.
Having won the Olympic singles gold medal in Paris, a prize that eluded Li, Zheng has shown she has the head-game to match the raw power to win on the biggest stages.
Her background and playing style inevitably draw comparisons with two-times Grand Slam champion Li.
She was born in Li's home province of Hubei and trained in her hometown Wuhan.
Like Li, she boarded at a sports school from a tender age as standard for talented child athletes in China.
This story is from the January 08, 2025 edition of Khaleej Times.
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This story is from the January 08, 2025 edition of Khaleej Times.
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