Zheng Jie's Breakthrough Opens China to Wimbledon Glory
or at least the next few days, tennis on grass is going to be a lot more popular in China than tennis on a table.
Zheng Jie became the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament Tuesday, beating Nicole Vaidisova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 at Wimbledon.
"China has quite a lot of sports in which it is a world leader," the 24-year-old Zheng said through a translator. "Unfortunately tennis is not one of them."
Zheng noted that China, the world's most populous country, is among the best at table tennis and diving, but she's hoping her success at Wimbledon will help the sport grow back home.
"With more and more people doing better in tennis, I believe more people will love this sport in the future," said Zheng, who also became the first female wild-card entrant to ever reach the semifinals at the All England Club and second at any Grand Slam.
In only her third appearance at Wimbledon, the 133rd-ranked Zheng has so far beaten French Open champion Ana Ivanovic and three other seeded players. On Thursday, she will face eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.
"I think many people (will) watch this match in China," Zheng said.
Williams, who beat 19-year-old Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 6-0 on Tuesday, has won the title at Wimbledon twice in her career, something Zheng is well aware of.
"So far I haven't found any weak link about her," said Zheng, who has won three WTA Tour titles in her career Ñ 28 fewer than Williams. "But as a first-time semifinalist, I would rather now enjoy the game more than anything else."
Zheng and Williams have only met once before, with the American winning in straight sets in the first round at Wimbledon in 2004.
"I've been watching her play," Williams said. "I think she's doing a fabulous job and I don't think it's luck."
On Tuesday, Zheng landed 65 percent of her first serves and broke the 18th-seeded Vaidisova five times.
"I was just trying to hang in there and try to turn it around in the second set. It worked a little bit," Vaidisova said. "Actually, I have to give her credit. She played great."
Zheng made her breakthrough in 2006 when she teamed with Yan Zi to win doubles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. But the victory at the All England Club didn't get a lot of attention in China during a busy period for sports.
"It was the same time as the World Cup, therefore it was not received as sensational," said Zheng, who has said she will donate her winnings to the victims of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan.
"Apart from that, I will do as much as I can to help the Sichuan region's people because I'm from Sichuan province as well," Zheng added. "When I go back, I will do more charity work and encourage more people come to support the stricken region and hope people from Sichuan will have their new homes as soon as possible."
07/01/2008 06:15 PM
By CHRIS LEHOURITES
AP Sports Writer
WIMBLEDON, England
China's Zheng Jie returns to Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, during their Women's Singles quarterfinal on the Number One Court at Wimbledon, Tuesday, July 1, 2008.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
China's Zheng Jie reacts as she defeats Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, in their Women's Singles quarterfinal on the Number One Court at Wimbledon, Tuesday, July 1, 2008.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
or at least the next few days, tennis on grass is going to be a lot more popular in China than tennis on a table.
