Nowhere was Li more comfortable competing than in Australia, which was close enough to China yet also far enough away, and where the shortest name in the game ended as one of the biggest. She reached her first major semi in 2010, and then three finals, and finally triumphed last year in what no one could have predicted would be the third-last grand slam of a pioneering career.

A chronic knee injury would prevent Li from continuing, the emotional end announced in China in September. She has plans for a coaching academy and motherhood as her other personal goal. "This time coming back is totally different, there's no pressure any more." said the 32-year-old, who admitted she hoped Kvitova would succeed her.

That is certainly a possibility, with the Czech completing the top-four seeds headed by Big Two Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova plus big improver Simona Halep. But, based on the events of 2014, the list of contenders extends much further, with eight different women having contested the four slam finals for just the second time in the Open era, and usual suspect Williams (S) claiming only the most recent, in New York.

It was telling that when Li was asked at Friday's draw whether she believed Williams could win a sixth Australian Open, having not even passed the quarter-finals since 2010, the Chinese star replied bluntly: "If she wants." Yet, interestingly, in the season's opening week, it was the other Williams, Venus, who finished with a title (in Auckland) to sneak back into the conversation at a tournament her sister denied her back in the 2003 final, while Serena endured a patchy Hopman Cup.

Which may well count for little when the real business begins, of course, for one more major – her 19th – would tie the 33-year-old Serena with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time list; plus she is about to start the 100th consecutive week of her latest reign as world No.1.

Sharapova is closing, however, as is Kvitova, the latter after a strong week in Sydney, where the dual Wimbledon winner reached Friday night's final against impressive young Karolina Pliskova. Last year, all four major trophies went to women who were already past champions somewhere; would-be first-timers of the new season include former finalists Halep, Eugenie Bouchard and Caroline Wozniacki, again.

One guaranteed change this year is the expansion of the celebrity coach phenomenon, following the trend started by Andy Murray with Ivan Lendl, and continued by the likes of Roger Federer (Stefan Edberg), Novak Djokovic (Boris Becker), Kei Nishikori (Michael Chang) and Marin Cilic (Goran Ivanisevic). When Sharapova emerged from what was a brief but clearly effective off-season break, it was to be surprised by the news of Navratilova's appointment to Agnieszka Radwanska's staff, with triple major winner Lindsay Davenport having also agreed to a new role with promising American Madison Keys.

Sharapova is in no hurry to offload Sven Groeneveld, it must be stressed, but appreciates the rationale behind the coaxing into the coaching box of so many former greats. "I think that's a great sign," said the reigning French Open and five-time major champion. "It's always nice to have someone that has been there and done that and had the experience behind them. For any athlete it would be inspiring to be around the person, and even if you're not talking about tennis, just kind of hearing their words and hearing their interpretation of things always motivates you."

Stosur needs no added desire to do well where she has crumpled so often; in fact, what she may be most guilty of is trying too hard and wanting to succeed too much. But Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik says she has never seen her friend more relaxed than at this week's Sydney International, where Stosur overcame one left-handed Czech nemesis, Lucie Safarova, for a much-needed opening win – though just the one. At the Open, the 20th seed will face another – Kvitova – at the third-round stage if both get that far.

Which would mean that, in Li's absence, the title-holder's favourite would play the crowds. "Of course, it's not easy to play in your country, especially in the big tournaments," said Li, who once carried the hopes of a nation of 1.4 billion, and admits it was different, and difficult, playing on her native soil. "I think I have the same experience. So I hope she can do well."