Li Na leads China's charge Down Under

They may be weary of talking about the Beijing Olympics, but the motivation the summer sports extravaganza gives to China's women's tennis players makes them among the most dangerous players at next week's Australian Open.

The emerging Chinese women come into the tournament on the heels of a surprisingly solid season-opening performance from Li Na. China's Olympics-crazed contingent rounds out with Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, the women's doubles champions at the 2006 Australian Open, and new pair Peng Shuai and Sun Tiantian.

Injuries to Li and Zheng resulted in an unspectacular 2007 for China's national treasures. But they have shown signs of encouragement lately as Li coasted to a title in her first tournament back and Zheng and Yan made two consecutive doubles finals at Gold Coast and Sydney.

After making the fourth round in last year's tournament before bowing to the now drug-tainted Martina Hingis, expectations are high for Li, who is also a Beijing medal hopeful.

Li had an impressive first half to the 2007 season, soaring to a personal best No 18 ranking before sustaining a stress fracture in her ribs, forcing her out of the final 13 events of the year.

But she has come back strong, winning the Australian Women's Hardcourt championships last week, although she skipped the following Sydney International with a knee injury.

"I am mentally stronger than ever," said Li, who, at Wimbledon 2006 became the first Chinese player to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam. "I had four months off without playing, staying in bed with my rib injury; I don't know how I've been able to come back like this.

"I missed my racket so much. I missed everything on the tennis court and I am hungry for victories and for the Olympics in August."

Fully recovered from the injury that threatened her Olympic dream, Li said she feels no extra pressure from this year's Games.

"The Olympics did not give me any extra pressure," she said. "For sure, people have high expectations on you because you will be playing at your doorstep, but for me, I want to win the Olympics and also Grand Slam events."

Li was echoed by teammate Peng Shuai, who is expected to play in both singles and doubles events in Beijing.

"It is tough to choose between Beijing and the Grand Slam. It doesn't matter which one. If I am on the court, I will try my best," Peng said.

She admitted Chinese officials were desperate to reproduce the success of the 2004 Olympics, where Li Ting and Sun Tiantian took women's doubles gold.

"I don't want to have any pressure, but there is pressure coming on, because last time (China) had the gold. I think they want to keep it going," Peng said.

Peng burst onto the scene in 2005, skipping up the singles ranking to No 31, the best placing by a Chinese player at the time.

But despite a third-round finish at Wimbledon in 2006, she had a dreadful year, withdrawing from at least seven tournaments with complaints ranging from hip injuries to dizziness.

She was reportedly at loggerheads with authorities over her schedule and earnings since Chinese athletes are required to give a large chunk of their earnings to the state.

Peng, who turned 22 on Tuesday, is currently ranked No 45, and despite her eight career titles, said she seriously considered giving up the game after the dispute.

"I almost quit tennis. I don't want to remember what happened, but to me it really, really hurt," she said, but refused to give specifics.

With the support of her mother, Peng, who admitted she was "really fat", lost weight and had a much better 2007.

She joined up with Chang, the American former French Open winner, but they parted ways in November.

"Like any friends, we'll have different opinions," she said.

China daily

(China Daily 01/11/2008 page22)