he Chinese women's doubles team of Yan Zi and Zheng Jie came back from a set down to beat Venus and Serena Williams 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the 4th round of the Australian Open. As winners of the 2006 Australian Open doubles championship, Yan and Zeng had been favored to win. They had also won the doubles championship at the 2006 Wimbledon.
This is the 4th Australian Open for both Yan and Zheng. Zheng's Australian singles run ended in the 1st round in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Zheng has won three career WTA singles titles: Hobart 2005, Estoril 2006 and Nordea Nordic Light 2006. In addition, she has won eleven WTA doubles titles, all with Yan Zi.
Yan's best singles performance at the Australian Open has been reaching the 2nd round in 2006. She recently regained her top 100 rank at No.80 after reaching the semifinals at Canada's Rogers Cup before losing 3-6, 0-6 to World No. 1 Justine Henin. Yan's career high ranking was No. 58 on October 15, 2007. Her highest doubles ranking was No.4.
Just hours earlier Serena Williams, ranked No. 7, had lost her quarterfinals singles match to Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-4. Venus, ranked No. 8, is scheduled to play her quarterfinals match against Ana Ivanovic on Wednesday.
Tue January 22, 2008 02:13 PST
Goldsea Staff
China's Yan Zi, right, and Zheng Jie , left, rejoice after beating Venus Williams and Serena Williams of the U.S. in their Women's Doubles fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008.
(AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)
he Chinese women's doubles team of Yan Zi and Zheng Jie came back from a set down to beat Venus and Serena Williams 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the 4th round of the Australian Open. As winners of the 2006 Australian Open doubles championship, Yan and Zeng had been favored to win. They had also won the doubles championship at the 2006 Wimbledon.
