Na won nine titles in total and the penultimate trophy of her career came at the Australian Open back in 2014.

The former World number two’s success at Melbourne Park came on the back of an improved shot, which Rennae Stubbs commented on during an episode of her podcast.

What did Rennae Stubbs say about Li Na’s 2014 Australian Open campaign?

Li Na dropped just one set on the way to winning the Australian Open in 2014. This was the second and final Grand Slam title of the Chinese player’s career before she retired from tennis later that year.

Part of her success Down Under was an improved serve, something Stubbs spoke about on her self titled podcast on Tuesday.

Stubbs recalled watching Na play prior to the Australian Open in New Haven, where she served plenty of double faults. But she was soon rewarded after making a big change.

“I remember Li Na when she won the Australian Open. Prior to that I will never forget, I was courtside for her match in New Haven. She probably hit 12 to 15 double faults,” Stubbs said.

“She had this little bit of a hitch on her second serve. She didn’t get a good kicker. She was hitting it on the right side of the ball, kind of similar to Coco.

“People who don’t have that margin of getting under the ball, hitting the kick serve, are always under pressure are going to hit a lot of double faults.

“Anyway, cut to the Australian Open and I am doing her first match. I remember her first serving and she was hitting a kick serve, her ball toss was further behind her. It was better.

“It was all correct. I was like there is margin. This is good. She was under pressure and I was like she is going to be able to make her second serves.”

What did Renane Stubbs tell Li Na at the 2014 Australian Open?

Li Na defeated the likes of Belinda Bencic, Ana Ivanovic and Eugenie Bouchard to reach the 2014 Australian Open final. She faced Dominika Cibulková in the championship match, and defeated the Slovakian 7-6(3), 6-0 to claim the title.

Stubbs recalled a conversation she had with Na during that tournament about her improved serve, where she warned her not to return to her old habits.

“Li and I had a good relationship and I was like ‘hey your serve, you are hitting kick serve now’. She was like ‘yeah, but I almost went back to my old serve,’” Stubbs added.

“Because she hadn’t played a match under pressure and this was on Rod Laver Arena. Everyone loves her there, everyone knows her. She had probably had 30 days [practicing it].

“She said she almost went back to her old serve. I literally looked at her and went no! Do not go back to your old serve, stay with this, it’s so much better. Sure enough she won the Australian Open that year.”

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