China
Zheng happy to go it alone in quest for maiden slam
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-01-24 15:51
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Zheng Jie of China reacts during her match against Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 24, 2010. [Agencies] |
MELBOURNE: Zheng Jie eased into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a straight sets win over Alona Bondarenko on Sunday, her victory adding another page to China's impressive run in the women's draw.
The 7-6 6-4 upset over the in-form Ukrainian not only bolstered the diminutive Zheng's claims for a maiden grand slam, but also validated her decision to break away from China's regimented sports system a year ago.
"Last year was the first year I've gone it alone... There were many things I didn't understand or know about and things weren't easy," Zheng told reporters.
"I think in my second year, I'm adapting to a lot."
Leaving the system, which most of China's top athletes are still tied to, meant keeping a lot more of her earnings, but also being exposed to the realities of life on the tour - having to organise her own coaching, travel and expenses.
It also exposed Zheng to a lot more scrutiny at home, where the Chinese Tennis Association's decision to allow the players to "fly away" has been slammed by conservative officials in the country.
RANKING DIP
The pressure may have told on Zheng, who shocked the tennis world with her run to the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2008, but could manage no more than a fourth-round finish at Melbourne Park out of the grand slams last year.
China's tennis chief also weighed into the debate last year, suggesting Zheng might be better off returning to the national fold after her ranking dipped from a high 15 to outside the top 30.
She now has her eyes on a semi-final, however, but will need to beat either world number two Dinara Safina or in-form Maria Kirilenko, who dumped Maria Sharapova out of the first round.
"I think Australia is lucky for me because I win the first grand slam doubles title (here)," she said, referring to her 2006 title partnered with Yan.
"But I think we can go further because you can see Li Na in the fourth round. I hope both of us Chinese players can be in the semi-finals."
Li, who has fared better than Zheng in her maiden year away from the state system, will play Caroline Wozniacki for a place in the quarter-finals.
Li and Zheng's performance has no doubt thrilled fans at home, but has also magnified the desultory state of the men's game, with not a single Chinese man in the singles draw at Melbourne Park.
"Yeah, it is a hard question. Everybody wants to know," Zheng smiled. "Maybe the men need to work harder."
