The 30-year-old shocked the world by breaking through at the French Open to win her first major title, becoming the first Grand Slam singles winner in Asia.

"I still remember after French," she said.

"I was this year feeling more free, because last year I come in and I just feel always someone following me and I couldn't do so many things for my private time. So now just back to normal," she said.

"If you always feel someone looking [at] you, security next to you, you didn't feel very comfortable. Now I can do much practice as I can. I can concentrate on the court."

This year, Li has made the quarterfinals or better at six of her nine tournaments and progressed to the Round of 16 at both the Australian Open and the French Open.

Things have steadied for her both on and off the court as she looks to begin her Wimbledon campaign against Ksenia Pervak. She's looking forward to improving on her tough second round exit last year to eventual semifinalist Sabine Lisicki. That was a match that could have gone either way (Lisicki won 8-6 in the third) but Li insists she no longer dwells on that disappointment.

"I like to say last year I got a lot of confidence come to Wimbledon but I didn't do well, so I wish this year I can do good," she said.

"You really couldn't always think about what you doing the last year, because right now one year already. Time can change everything."

The one thing time doesn't change is the unpredictable British weather. When asked for her first memories of Wimbledon, Li couldn't help but laugh.

"I mean, the weather, of course. Every year is the same. Some days with rain are coming we have to wait, and sometimes we have to come to the court straightaway," she said.

"And strawberries and cream," she said. "I have to eat, otherwise I miss something."