General / Editor / 06 February 2007 /

China may be recognised as one of the world's oldest civilisations, but it is now also building a reputation as an emerging force in women's tennis.

Over recent years there has been an explosion of talented female tennis starlets bursting onto the global scene. And, of course, it couldn't have come at a better time for the nation's sporting chiefs as they concentrate their focus firmly on the 2008 Olympic Games set to be staged in the Chinese capital Beijing.

Their transgression onto the tennis scene has been a rapid one. In 2002, there was not a single player in the top 100 on the WTA tour. This month there are no fewer than three in the top 50.

The breakthrough for Chinese women's tennis came in 2004 when an unknown duo Li Ting and Sun Tiantian struck doubles gold at the Athens Olympics.

That laid the foundations for others to follow suit and now China has three doubles partnerships in the top 20. In fact, Yan Zi and her fellow Sichuan native Zheng Jie are currently ranked as high as fourth in the world - and with justification.

The duo created Chinese tennis history in 2006 by winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon doubles crowns - the country's first ever Grand Slam victories. Just three places behind them in the present WTA doubles world standings are Sun Shengnan, now partnering Sun Tiantian.

The doubles scene certainly looks bright then but there is also a leading light in the singles game in the shape of Li Na, perhaps familiar to many on UK shores now having reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2006.

She may have the shortest name in the world game, but Li has now established a big reputation on the WTA circuit. Li became the first Chinese player to break into the world's top 20, and her quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open last month rocketed her up to a career-high 16th best on the planet.

The 24-year-old from Wu Han took up tennis at the age of eight after actually being poached by a coach who had spotted her playing badminton. She turned professional in 1999 and between then and 2004 won 20 women's singles titles; 19 ITF tournaments and became the first woman from her country to triumph in a WTA Tour event - in Guangzhou in 2004. And that was despite taking a year out of the game citing 'health reasons'.

Last year Li made her mark in Britain when she competed in her first Wimbledon, reaching the last eight at the All England club. As a result of that and a fourth-round appearance at the US Open Li, last August, became the first Chinese woman to be ranked in the world's top-20.

And she seems to be reaching the peak of her powers as she approaches her 25th birthday later this month, suggesting she may be one to follow in the year ahead.
Having revelled on her debut at SW19 last year, the two-handed backhand player will certainly have no fears on grass again if she can maintain form and focus for Wimbledon 2007.

And she'll be in good company at the All England club where compatriot Zheng will be looking to successfully defend her doubles crown. The talented 23-year-old is another of China's bright young stars, also occupying a lofty position in the WTA singles standings - ranked at number 30.

Having also secured the Australian doubles crown, Zheng triumphed in the Estoril Open before landing what was her third WTA title to cap a marvellous year with a surprise victory over world number 11 Anastasia Myskina in the Stockholm Open.

Then only last month Zheng defeated local favourite Sania Mirza to win gold in the Asian Games women's singles tennis final in India. Completing the trio of singles sensations is baby-faced 20-year-old Peng Shuai - ranked 42 in the world.

She has eight ITF titles already under her belt and is a developing player. She reached the third round at Wimbledon last year, and can count victories over the likes of Kim Clijsters and Elena Dementieva as her highlights of 2006.

So, what exactly is this recent secret of success in Chinese women's tennis down to?
Well, it's a tough one to answer. Chinese stars have a habit of emerging almost fully-formed from the country's secretive sports system. In fact, Chinese sporting stars are often viewed as a tool for national glory, not individual accomplishment.

Having to give a portion of their winnings back to the country's federation, it has been reported that China's tennis stars must sweat through seven hours of practice a day.

Coaches are said to rely on monotonous drills to keep the women in shape, room-mates are assigned and mealtimes set, so tennis is more often than not a lifestyle option for these developing female stars rather than just a profession.

Thankfully the rewards are now evident. And with the future of women's tennis in China burning brightly it has perhaps come as no surprise that the nation's tennis chiefs have recently sounded out Chinese-American Michael Chang for the role as coach for the national team after the 1989 French Open winner initially expressed his interest in the job.

With a booming economy, a rich tradition in racket sports, such as table tennis and badminton, and most importantly the looming Beijing Olympics in 2008, China is without doubt primed for tennis ascendancy.

And on this evidence the country's current crop of women tennis stars look to be worth their weight in gold.

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