June 23, 2009

Zheng Jie- Getty Images

With Wimbledon on the horizon, Zheng Jie will look to carry over her success from the 2008 tournament. The 25-year old has been a groundbreaker and a record setter for tennis in China since turning pro in 2003, and she has gained attention for all the right reasons, both on and off the court.

Known for her consistent tennis, Zheng makes life difficult for opponents by placing shots deep in the court. She uses a defensive style to extend points and win long rallies. Zheng makes up for her lack of power with skilled counter shots, and constantly induces unforced errors from her opposition. This style has allowed Zheng to record many firsts as a Chinese player, while also garnering success on a variety of surfaces.

Last season was one of redemption for Zheng, as she returned from a severe left ankle injury that forced her to miss the second half of the 2007 season. As a result, her singles ranking slipped all the way to No. 163, and she faced a long road back.

But Zheng showed her mettle in her 2008 return, bouncing back from the injury to have her best season yet. Highlighted by an improbable run at Wimbledon, Zheng rose all the way to No. 25 in the rankings, and was named the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Comeback Player of the Year. At Wimbledon, Zheng entered as a wild card, but stunned several higher ranked players, including Ana Ivanovic, as she rolled to the semifinals. Her straight sets victory over Ivanovic was the first time a Chinese player had ever beat a reigning world No. 1, while also becoming the first Chinese player in history to reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal.

For Zheng, this was an opportunity to help those in her home province of Sichuan. In a selfless act, she donated her prize money from the tournament to the victims and post-reconstruction efforts of an earthquake that killed nearly 70,000 people and left five to 10 million homeless. One year later, Zheng returned home to provide hope and inspiration to children that have been affected.

“I feel a responsibility to help rebuild my hometown,” Zheng said. “With this visit and tennis equipment and accessories, we want to bring hope and cheer to these children. I want them to feel all the support of their community, China, and the world, and I hope they will continue to be strong and never give up.”

Zheng has come a long way since turning pro, and has produced many firsts for her native country. She finished 2003 in the Top 100 for the first time, and soon after became the first Chinese woman to reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam during the 2004 French Open, her first appearance at Roland Garros.

In 2005, Zheng won her first WTA singles title at Hobart, and finished the year ranked No. 44 in the world. Then, in 2006, she broke out, winning two more singles titles, and forming a formidable doubles partnership with compatriot Yan Zi. The pair became China’s first ever Grand Slam winners, conquering both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Zheng was ranked No. 3 in the world for doubles, and became the first Chinese player to amass over $1 million in career earnings.

This year, Zheng has continued to climb the rankings reaching a career-high No. 15 while compatriot Li Na has also re-entered the Top 20. Zheng won’t be able to surprise anyone as she heads into this year’s edition of Wimbledon, but she’ll certainly have a chance to make another deep run at the tournament. Regardless of her finish in England, Zheng will also be one of the favourites when the women head to Toronto for the Rogers Cup from August 15-23, 2009.