Watch out for China says Davenport
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-21 09:10

World number one Lindsay Davenport believes China is the coming force of women's tennis after watching the rise of Chinese players over the past year.

World number one Lindsay Davenport, seen here in here second round match at the Australian Open, believes China is the coming force of women's tennis after watching the rise of Chinese players over the past year. [AFP]

China saw their representation in the Australian Open narrow after Peng Shuai was eliminated following a brave performance against former world number one Venus Williams losing 6-3, 6-1.

That left Li Na as the solitary Chinese in the women's draw, with the 22-year-old from Wuhan facing likely elimination against Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova in the third round on Friday.

But the Chinese performances in Melbourne and on the WTA Tour over the past few years have made a strong impression on top seed Davenport.

"China's come a long way in producing a bunch of players," she said. "All of a sudden they've got I think five or six legitimate players in the top hundred that are improving rapidly.

"I've heard that because of the Olympics next time around, they've put a lot of money into it and are trying to develop these players. It seems to have really helped.

"Five years ago, I don't remember any player from China. Now we've got five or six good ones," she added.

Chinese players have scored a series of notable results over the past year, with Li winning her country's first WTA Tour title in Guangzhou and doubles duo Sun Tiantian and Li Ting winning Olympic doubles gold.

This year, world number 59 Zheng Jie became the second Chinese player to win a WTA crown when she won in Hobart in the build-up to the Open.

Meanwhile, Peng last week caused an upset when she defeated Russia's French Open champion Anastasia Myskina in Sydney.

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Australian Open: Li Na beat Shinobu Asagoe Tennis star: Maria Sharapova Real, Valladolid come to goaless draw

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