China's hopes of a first grand slam finalist were crushed by two of the greats of the women's game on Thursday but Li Na and Zheng Jie's brilliant Australian Open run marked another step in the country's inevitable rise.
Dubbed China's "Golden Flowers" by an appreciative media at home, Li and Zheng's record-shattering path to the semi-finals at Melbourne Park ignited the draw and offered the astonishing possibility of an all-Chinese final. ... more ...
Videos about Li Na, China
Double Happiness – Zheng Jie and Li Na through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open
Both Zheng Jie and Li Na are now through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open after Li Na beat Venus Williams after losing first set 2-6; the match started with Li down 4-0, so it was a dramatic come-back. Even more so when sprung back from a match point to six-times champion Venus. ... more ...