CHINA: TENNIS - Tennis players Li Na and Zheng Jie are welcomed home after their good showing at Australian Open

Record ID: 609548

  • Title: CHINA: TENNIS - Tennis players Li Na and Zheng Jie are welcomed home after their good showing at Australian Open
  • Date: 4th February 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF WOMEN TENNIS ASSOCIATION DAVID SHOEMAKER SAYING: "It runs the gamut in turns of all the reactions. The fans have been going crazy. We see it on our website, spikes in traffic what, 700 percent, unique users visiting our website and our social networks are spiking by about 1100 percent and things like that. And they are all talking about h
  • Embargoed: 19th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAZ33MY6QUAF3ODREGOYC26T9G
  • Story Text: Chinese tennis players Li Na and Zheng Jie returned home to a warm welcome on Wednesday (February 3) after reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
    Li lost to Serena Williams and Justine Henin beat Zheng, but their achievement has boosted the sport in China, where it is still in its infancy.
    Li, who has endured a sometimes fraught relationship with Chinese media, said the presence of so many journalists and fans on her arrival in Beijing caught her by surprise.
    "This was completely beyond my expectation. I didn't expect the fans to be this enthusiastic, because I changed my flight and arrived early in the morning. I thought I might get back into my country quietly. But who knew that CCTV was already waiting for me at the terminal gate. I am being recognised more and more now by strangers. My life is different," said Li.
    Zheng said despite the defeat, she came to realise her level and became more confident.
    "Confidence. I think for me is my second time getting to top four. So for myself I have more confidence in myself to achieve this. I recognise my own level. I believe in the future when I play in important competition I will be more relaxed," said Zheng.
    As with all sports, tennis was once denounced as bourgeois and decadent and banned in China under the rule of the late Mao Zedong, but the game has come along way in a very short time.
    Olympic ambitions have played a big part, with the Communist Party leadership introducing resources, cash and foreign coaches into the game to produce players who can bolster medal counts.
    However David Shoemaker, the president of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), said at the welcoming ceremony in Beijing that the women's achievements were amazing.
    "It runs the gamut in turns of all the reactions. The fans have been going crazy. We see it on our website, spikes in traffic what, 700 percent, unique users visiting our website and our social networks are spiking by about 1100 percent and things like that. And they are all talking about how great they are. Even with two are very different tennis players both on and off the court," said Shoemaker.
    The China Tennis Association called Zheng Jie and Li Na's march to the semi-finals a "great achievement" that will act as a superb example to young Chinese players.
    The blooming of Li Na and Zheng Jie at Melbourne Park was also something of a vindication for the decision to allow the pair to leave the state sports system and manage their own careers.
    The China Tennis Association's (CTA) move to give Li, Zheng and two other top players the power to choose their own coaches and keep nearly all of their prize money was opposed by some conservatives.
    Both have been working with foreign coaches of their own choosing, Zheng bringing the renowned American Nick Bollettieri and Li working with Swede Thomas Hogstedt.
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