Li, Zheng/Yan sail through at Gold Coast
Updated: 2008-01-03 11:40
CANBERRA - Two times Grand Slam winners Zheng Jie/Yan Zi made a winning return on Wednesday as they beat Czech Jarmila Gajdosova and Australian Bryanne Stewart 6-3, 6-4 in the women's doubles first round of the Gold Coast hardcourt tennis tourney.
 Li Na of China plays a forehand return during her match against Australia's Monique Adamczak at the Australian women's hardcourt tennis championships on the Gold Coast, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. Li won 6-3, 6-2. [Agencies] |
Fellow Chinese Li Na, ranked 29th in the world, notched up an easy win in the singles second round after blitzing Australian wildcard Monique Adamczak 6-3, 6-2 in just 58 minutes.
The Chinese No.1 missed the second half of 2007 with a right-rib stress fracture and will be delighted with the flying start in the new year.
Adamczak dropped four serves while the 25-year-old Li saved the only breaking point she faced.
Coming up next for Li in the quarterfinals will be the top seed Nicole Vaidisova from the Czech Republic, who got the better of German Tatjana Malek 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.
Australian Open and Wimbledon winners Zheng/Yan were among the top teams in 2006 but Zheng missed the second half of the 2007 season with a left ankle injury, leading to the team's slump in the rankings.
They converted on four out of seven breaking points opportunities to beat the opponents in 62 minutes before advancing into a second round meeting against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Israeli Shahar Peer.
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