WATCH: Li Na crashes Zheng Qinwen's interview during surprise visit to the Australian Open

After Zheng Qinwen put on a show on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday with a thrilling 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (8) win over fellow Chinese player Wang Yafan, the No. 12 seed received the surprise of a lifetime from Australian Open organizers.

Speaking in her on-court interview, Zheng recalled being 11 years old and watching live on TV as China’s Li Na clinched her second Grand Slam title on that very same court. She has since rewatched the final match “more than 10 times”.

“She’s unbelievable,” Zheng said when asked about Li’s impact and inspiration in her own career. “The first Asian woman who won a Grand Slam. How could you not remember that?”

Zheng was in for a treat as the tournament surprised her with the news that the former world No. 1 was back in the house, visiting Melbourne to celebrate a decade since her Grand Slam triumph. Li was seated in Rod Laver Arena as organizers put together a center court program fit for the occasion, featuring the all-Chinese match between Zheng and Wang followed by 18-year-old Jerry Shang taking on world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.

A beloved figure on the women’s tour, Li is often remembered for her sense of humor as much as her tennis achievements after her trailblazing career—and she gave Zheng an even bigger surprise, as Li crashed one of the player’s post-match interviews and greeted her with a friendly smack:

Zheng was still grinning in her post-match press conference as she recalled her first in-person meeting with one of her country’s sports heroes. (Watch video above)

“You guys prepare really well because that was totally a surprise for me!” Zheng said. “She just went to me like this, say congratulations. I was feeling super happy to met her and have the chance to talk with her because I never talked with her (in person). That was (a) really special feeling for me.

“I feel she's much more beautiful than when I saw her on TV before!”

The 2023 US Open quarterfinalist booked her ticket to the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time, and will next face Oceane Dodin.

After defeating Ashlyn Krueger, Katie Boulter and Wang, Zheng has now reached the fourth round or better in every Grand Slam except Wimbledon, where she reached the third round in 2022.

Now, she has a huge opportunity to go even further: With 19-year-old Linda Noskova’s stunning upset over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek later in the day, Zheng is the highest-ranked woman in her half of the now wide-open draw.