China

Defending Zheng\Yan stopped by Taiwan duo from final

(AFP)
Updated: 2007-01-25 14:17

MELBOURNE - Overjoyed Taiwan pair Chan Yung-Jan and Chuang Chia-Jung put themselves in a Grand Slam final for the first time when they beat Chinese defending champions Yan Zi and Zheng Jie.

Chan Yung-Jan (C) and Chuang Chia-Jung (R) of Taiwan hold their island's flag as they celebrate after victory in their fifth round women's doubles match against Chinese pair Yan Zi and Zheng Jie at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Yung-Jan and Chia-Jung beat Zheng and Yan 6-3, 6-4. [AFP]

The unseeded duo fended off second seeds Yan and Zheng 6-3, 6-4 in 1hr 23 mins and will play the third seeds Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber of South Africa for the title on Friday.

Chan said it felt extra special because they dumped the defending Australian Open champions and gained revenge after Zheng and Yan beat them in the Asian Games final in Doha last month.

"We lost to them in the Asian Games final and this is revenge for that," smiled the 17-year-old, who got a phone call from her excited mother Liu Hsieh-Chen in Taipei as she soaked up the applause on Margaret Court Arena.

"This is the second time we have played them and we knew a bit more about their game.

"Winning in straight sets is an extra bonus. We are very excited because it is a big surprise."

Chuang, who is ranked 177 in the world, said the key to their success at Melbourne Park was being relaxed and having fun.

"We are just trying to be relaxed and have fun and it looks like it is working," she said, adding that they are getting a lot of support from back home.

"Lots of people are watching. Maybe we will go home as heroes."

They have never played Black and Huber before but have watched some of their matches here.

"We will do the same as we have been doing here, just trying to do our best and have fun," added Chan, who had her best season last year, finishing in the top 100 for the first time at 96.

After winning here last year and then winning Wimbledon -- the first time anyone from China has won a Grand Slam event -- Zheng and Jie were disappointed not to at least reach the final.

"Our opponents played very well. In the second set we had some chances and a lot of break points. I am not so happy because we wanted to go to the final," said Zheng.

Yan added: "We didn't play our best tennis today. They served very well and volleyed very well and put a lot of pressure on us."

Taiwan is not known as a tennis powerhouse and before Thursday their best-known player was Wang Shi-Ting, who won six tour titles and reached a career-high singles ranking of 26 in 1993.

Wang played the Slams between 1992 and 1999 but never got beyond the third round.