Li, Zheng to the fore as world takes notice of China's might

If ever there was conclusive proof that the mainstream tennis world was taking Chinese players more seriously, it came on the sun-drenched first Wednesday of the US Open.

In the compact seating of court 13 at Flushing Meadows watching the second-round match between Li Na and Italy's Sara Errani was Richard Williams, father and coach of the Williams sisters.

After Li's shock victory over Venus at the Beijing Olympics, the Williams patriarch wanted to see first-hand the razor-sharp skills of China's top singles player even though both his daughters were on the other side of the draw.

'He didn't make it to Beijing so it was the first time that Richard had watched Li,' said US tennis writer, Richard Kent. 'He arrived with his entourage during the first set and left at the end of the match very impressed.'

Two hours later on court 11, Zheng Jie's three-set battle against Annabel Medina Garrigues, of Spain, attracted more attention than an early-round match involving two non-Americans might normally. In between changeovers, a group of playful American spectators joined in the chant of 'Zheng Jie, Jia You! (Come On!)', started by Chinese fans of the Olympic bronze-medallist.

'After Beijing, people know more about China and maybe a little more about me, too,' said Zheng who lost a hard-fought match against Jelena Jankovic in the third round on Friday at Flushing Meadows.