Li Na leads China's charge

Li Na's sparkling performance at another top event, last week's Qatar Open, bumped her to her highest ranking since returning to the court in January after a seven-month absence.

The Chinese singles star, who celebrated her 26th birthday yesterday, continues to impress, and her giant-killing exploits suggest that China's Olympic dream may be attainable after all.

National team head coach Jiang Hongwei announced a month ago that China's aim is to win medals in both singles and doubles events. The goal was deemed "out of reach" by local media given that Chinese singles players have yet to win a major tournament against elite opponents.

But Li beat three top-20 players in a row in Qatar and showed she has what it takes to contend in the world's top events. With solid ground strokes, Li outclassed world No 4 Jelena Jankovic, No 6 Anna Chakvetadze and No 17 Shahar Peer, making it to her third Tier I event semifinal where she finally lost to Vera Zvonareva.

Her previous two Tier I showings were at Sydney and Indian Wells last year.

But Li stays grounded when she talks about her Olympic goal.

"I don't think about it too much," she told Sina.com after the Qatar Open. "Winning a medal is a very difficult goal for me, because as far as I know, a number of top-20 players will come to Beijing in August. But that's the joy of being an athlete, I love a challenge like this.

"It is not a goal if you can easily reach it. The Olympics is my career chance and brings me a lot of motivation so I will do my best to go further at the Games."

The ranking points she earned in Qatar bumped Li into No 22 from 29, only six spots shy of her personal best, No 16, which she achieved last February after a string of top-notch performances in Australia.

Li's teammate Yan Zi also raised her ranking to No 55, while maverick Peng Shuai holds the 59th spot. Although still not a challenge to the 15 Russians and 11 Americans in the top 100, China now boasts four Chinese women in the top 100. Yuan Meng, at No 88, is the fourth.

Li said her success on the tour should be attributed to her husband and coach, Jiang Shan.

"As a coach, he gives me a lot of new ideas. I think he's done a great job, though this is his first coaching job," she said. "As a husband and a close friend of mine, he makes me feel very comfortable competing and traveling around the globe. I really appreciate him."

(China Daily 02/27/2008 page23)