Female Chinese tennis player, Li Na, created history for China
at Wimbledon yesterday.
Li, 24, overcame Czech 17-year-old Nicole Vaidisova 4-6, 6-1,
6-3 to become China's first grand slam singles
quarter-finalist.
"I'm proud of myself and very proud for my country as well," Li
said through an interpreter. "Even though I lost the first set I'm
proud of what I achieved."
Li beat French Open runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in
the third round and used her powerful forehand to subdue Vaidisova
who reached the last four at Roland Garros.
She plays Belgian second seed Kim Clijsters in the last eight.
Clijsters outclassed Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-2
yesterday.
Before Wimbledon the best singles showing by a Chinese player
was Zheng Jie's run to the French Open fourth round in 2004.
(China Daily July 4, 2006)