Twice Grand Slam women's doubles winner Zheng Jie and current Chinese female number one Li Na are scheduled to return to tennis court next January, confirmed top official of Chinese tennis governing body on Thursday.

 

"I guaranteed you that they have recovered well enough from their injuries," said Gao Shenyang, vice director of the Tennis Management Center of the State Sports Administration, while he was inspecting the Sixth Chinese City Games in Wuhan, central China.

 

"Zheng's surgery has been done pretty well and she now is resuming practice, but some of the aggressive play is still beyond her ability, mostly due to mental fears," said Gao. "Anyway, everything is under control. It is positive that Zheng returns to professional tennis next January, playing in the Australian Open and the series before the year's first Grand Slam and so is Li."

 

The 24-year-old Zheng, who partnered teammate Yan Zi to claim the women's doubles at the Australian Open and the Wimbledon in 2006, injured her left ankle badly in Roland Garros this year and has never played since.

 

While the 26-year-old Li, the first Chinese woman ever to make last eight at a Grand Slam, is in Germany recovering from the inflammation in rib. The former world number 20 has never laid a hand on racket since the WTA grass event in Birmingham this summer.

 

"Both of them will join the national team in Southern China's Guangdong Jiangmen for the annual winter training recently," said Gao. "They will be better concerned in case of further injury and unique training methods will be conducted upon them."

 

This year's winter training session came into limelight as the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games are just eight months out. In a country like China, the Olympics could weigh heavier than any other tournament, so the tennis governing body decided to let the injured rest in convalescence until they can compete as normal.

 

"The decision (to heal the injuries) is carefully considered and welcome by the players themselves. It will do good to the health of the players and the build-up to the Olympics," added Gao.

 

Li Ting/Sun Tiantian stunned the world in 2004 Athens Games, winning for China the first-ever gold medal in tennis, beating Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual from Spain 6-3, 6-3 in the final.

 

Following them, the Chinese girls highlighted the world tennis courts over the past three years characterized by Zheng/Yan's doubles titles in the Australian Open and the Wimbledon in 2006.

 

However, Team China's efforts in 2007 seemed dented when Zheng, Li Na and Peng Shuai were injured one after another, and underperforming Li Ting had to retire this Spring at the age of 27 after the national team leaders and coaches put blame on her on several occasions.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2007)