Zheng targets doubles despite spectacular run

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-5  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

ZHENG Jie's sensational run to the semifinals at Wimbledon has given her the confidence to focus on her singles game, but only after her bid to defend China's Olympic doubles crown in Beijing next month.

Zheng won the Wimbledon and Australian Open doubles titles in 2006 with long-time partner Yan Zi and the pair are aiming to repeat the feat of Athens gold medalists Sun Tiantian and Li Ting in Beijing.

"After the Olympics I might lean to the singles a little bit more," Zheng, who turns 25 today, told the Shanghai Morning Post.

"My focus at the Olympics is still the doubles. Yan Zi and I have a better chance in it and we have been preparing for it for the whole year."

In the best performance by a Chinese player at a grand slam to date, wildcard Zheng beat top seed Ana Ivanovic, 15th seed Agnes Szavay and 18th seed Nicole Vaidisova, bowing out to Serena Williams in the semifinals.

Zheng was ranked a lowly 133rd in the world on arrival at the All England Club after an ankle injury ruled her out for much of last season.

Before the injury she had won 10 doubles titles with Yan and three singles titles but added only the Sydney doubles title after returning this season.

The China Tennis Association has targeted the women's doubles gold at the August 8-24 Games and deputy director Gao Shenyang said earlier this week that it would remain Zheng's priority.

Tough competition

Zheng has qualified for singles and doubles for the Games but the competition will be considerably tougher than when she won both golds at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

"Everybody wants an Olympic gold medal and I feel it is more likely to happen in the doubles," Zheng said.

Zheng said she was satisfied by her performance at Wimbledon despite losing 6-2, 7-6 (5) to Serena.