Aussie coach confident Wang can conquer greater heights

McNamara, who has put Wang through "hell mode" training, credits good old-fashioned hard work as the reason behind the turnaround.

"I was a little disappointed about her performance in the first half of this season; it wasn't what I wanted it to be," he said. "But this is normal sometimes when you have a good year.

"I don't think she played that bad, but she didn't perform like she did last year. We needed to put a little bit more work in and change her mentality a little bit.

"The second half of the season has been unbelievable. It's amazing. She deserves everything she's got. She's worked hard. She's made changes."

McNamara said the biggest change is Wang's tactical mindset.

"Understanding the game is her most important improvement. She started to understand the game, and that's why I struggled to teach her tactics and how to hit the ball," he said.

"Chinese players are very good at hitting the ball, but they don't always understand why they hit the ball to a position or a certain spot.

"This is where you become a better player. First, you have to understand why you hit the ball, then you can improve very quickly."

Wang said she is no longer intimidated by facing the world's top players.

"I don't overthink it any more; I just think of them as my next opponent," said the Tianjin native.

"So I treat it as a normal game. If you overthink too much, you put too much pressure on yourself."

And McNamara believes Wang is blessed with a big-match temperament.

"She likes the big stage, and it's not easy to do. That's a real asset. On a big stage, big players are able to control their nerves."

The 63-year-old McNamara won't allow Wang take her foot off the gas pedal just yet. Asked what Wang needs to improve, the coach answered: "Everything."

For Wang herself, the goal is simply to emulate her hero: "Li Na is my role model and she's why I play," she said.

"If I could play like Li Na, I feel like my life would be perfect."