By Zhao Rui (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-19 09:18

Chinese men's tennis players once again failed to rise to the occasion at the China Open, but Boris Becker's former coach believes they could make an impact on the professional tour with a little more motivation.

The Australian mentor has won wide recognition after working with a number of top players in his 30-year coaching career including Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, Andre Medvedev and Mario Ancic.

Sun Peng of China fails to advance into the second round of the on-going China Open in Beijing. His Australian coach Bob Brett reveals what Chinese make player lack most is motivation rather than any physical disadvantage. [Xinhua]

"What Chinese boys need most is motivation," Bob Brett said at the China Open in Beijing.

"I know a lot of people say Asian men's players cannot win major tournaments because of some genetic reasons, but that's not the case.

"They need more desire to compete on the tour, and with a strong motivation, Chinese players will be able to overcome physical disadvantages and all sorts of things that people believe they do not have."

Brett was employed by Tianjin Tennis Association earlier this year to work with China's top singles player and world No 535 Sun Peng.

Despite losing in the first round at the tournament, the 24-year-old has given Brett some new ideas about Chinese.

"I don't think Chinese lack strength or are slow, like some told me," Brett said.

"On the contrary, Sun is very strong and quick. Obviously he is a quick-learner, and I am happy to see his forehand has reached a pretty good level.

"But I think he might be short of desire that's a situation I need to deal with."

China's women earned their place on the WTA Tour by reproducing the determination that won them gold in Athens, but China's men's players are yet to show any dramatic improvement.

National team players are now around 800 in the rankings and are forced to spend most of their time competing in ITF (International Tennis Association) Futures fixtures, the lowest-level pro tournaments.

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