China celebrates Zheng, Li for Australian wins

Zheng Jie (L) and Li Na
China reveled in its unprecedented success at the Australian Open after Li Na defeated Venus Williams to give the country two players in the semifinals of a Grand Slam.

Li shook off nerves and fought back from a set down and trailing in the second to knock off Williams 2-6, 7-6, 7-5.

Officials from the China Tennis Association were watching Li, who joined Zheng Jie in the final four.

"Everybody was excited," said Gao Shenyang, the center's deputy director. Local media called the two women "Two Golden Flowers.".

Li and Zheng appear to have prospered from a dramatic decision at the end of 2008 to leave China's state-supported sports system and manage their own careers. Both have since worked with foreign coaches.

No Chinese player has broken into the top 10 in the world or won a Grand Slam singles title. Li and Zheng have made it into the top 15 -- the first time China had two players in the top 20.

"Best day of my whole life," Li said after the win against No. 6 Venus Williams.

The win puts her on court against another Williams -- defending champion Serena Williams -- in the semi-finals. Zheng's opponent is former No. 1-ranked Justine Henin, who is blazing through her tennis comeback after a temporary retirement.

Li Na is coached by her husband, Jiang Shan, and Swede Thomas Hogstedt, a former No. 35 singles player who coached Tommy Haas back into the top 10 in 2006 and the Chinese national women's team in 2008.

Gao said Chinese tennis officials face a challenge to ensure the next generation of players can keep up with Li and Zheng.

He said the new players have far better equipment and facilities than the two semifinalists once used "but still they are not doing as well as Zheng and Li when they were the same age."

Chinese fans praised the two women online and contrasted their success with the weakness of the country's male tennis players.

People's Daily Online -Agencies