Girl power revolutionizes Chinese tennis

As Zheng Jie spent combative hour after hour on tennis drills, muscle training and curative massages at Beijing International Center, where she pitched up before breakfast one day last week, everything about the scene was normal except for one paltry detail: she was the only player there.

Testament to the new treatment being afforded the Chinese No 2, whose pretty face adorns posters and inspires young Chinese girls to learn the game, Zheng is now being allowed to manage her own career by China's traditionally ultra-protective sports authorities.