China holds court for Asia in Australian Open
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-21 10:20

Athens Olympic gold medallists Sun Tiantian and Li Ting yesterday kept the momentum going for Asia in the Australian Open doubles, capping a strong day for China.

Mixed Doubles partners Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Mahesh Bhupathi of India return a shot Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, during their match against Wang Yeu-tzuoo of Taiwan and Li Na of China in the first round of mixed doubles Friday, Jan. 20, 2006 at the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne, Australia. Hingis and Bhupathi defeated Wang and Li 6-2, 6-2. [AP]

 

They were joined in the next round by their compatriots Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, who reached the semi-final or better at seven Tour events in their breakthrough season last year, including the US Open quarter-finals.

But there was disappointment for Taiwan’s Wang Yeu-tzuoo and partner Li Na of China, who fell 6-2, 6-2 in the mixed doubles to Swiss comeback queen Martina Hingis and Indian doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi.

Tiantian was confident that she and Li Ting could go far here, and even has eyes on the title despite next facing top seeds Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur.

“This tournament is very important for us because it is a Grand Slam and it doesn’t get bigger than this,” said Tiantian after they beat Australia’s Casey Dellacqua and Trudi Musgrave 7-5, 6-2.

“It is bigger than the Olympics because there are professional players taking part, better players as many of them don’t compete at the Olympics.”

Li Ting and Tiantian made history for China with their 6-3, 6-3 victory over Spain’s Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual in Athens and said it was a vitally important result for Chinese tennis.

“It was really important not just for us but for the future of Chinese tennis,” said Tiantian, adding that “we are always trying to get better”.

Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, the 12th seeds, join them in the third round after a comprehensive 6-4, 6-0 drubbing of Spain’s Lourdes Lino Dominguez and Maria Lorenzo Sanchez. They next play Flavia Pennetta and Elena Dementieva, seeded seven.

China’s Peng Shuai and Li Na also remain in the competition and play their second round match against Japan’s Ai Sugiyama and Daniela Hantuchova of the Slovakia today.

While there was success for China, other Asians fared worse with doubles specialist Leander Paes of India and partner Martin Damm of the Czech Republic falling to Czech pair Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Viznar.

Taiwan’s Janet Lee, hooked with Amy Frazier of the United States, also tumbled out, losing to number two seeds Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Rennae Stubbs of Australia in straight sets.

But Japan’s Sugiyama, playing with Australian Wayne Arthurs in the mixed doubles, beat Carlos Moya of Spain and Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.

Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn and Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei play today, against Japan’s Shinobu Asagoe and Katarina Srebotnik.

India’s Mahesh also remains in with a shout in the men’s doubles, paired with Wesley Moodie of South Africa. They also play today.

Asia’s singles campaign has almost ground to a halt with every regional player out except Japan’s Aiko Nakamura.

Nakamura, 22, will cross swords with seventh seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the third round today with the winner playing either 12th seed Anastasia Myskina of Russia or Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden.

The Osaka native has never reached a Grand Slam third round and has said she feels a responsibility to Japan and Asia to keep going. – AFP