China hails 'miracle' grand slam winners
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-27 19:35

China's first grand slam winners were the toast of the country on Friday, with one media report hailing Zheng Jie and Yan Zi's victory in the women's doubles final at the Australian Open a "miracle."

Yan Zi of China, left, and compatriot Zheng Jie show their winning trophy after womens doubles match final against Lisa Raymond of the United Stetes and Samantha Stosur of Australia at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan 27, 2006. Chinese pair won the final match 2-6, 7-6, 6-3. [AP]

"(Zheng and Yan) have given the Chinese people great joy, we feel very proud of you," the Chinese Tennis Association gushed in a letter wired to the young women after their win in Melbourne, Xinhua news agency reported.

The 12th-seeded pair came back from a set down and saved two match points in a second set tie-break before going on to defeat top seeds Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur 2-6 7-6 6-3.

"They performed a miracle," news Web site www.sina.com said.

China has been making huge strides in women's tennis in recent years, highlighted by Sun Tiantian and Li Ting's gold medal in the women's doubles at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"This is a huge Spring Festival gift for the Chinese people," Xinhua said in a separate commentary, referring to celebrations of the Lunar New Year, which starts on Sunday.

Zheng and Yan, both natives of China's southwest Sichuan province, have been playing partners and friends for more than a decade, a key factor in their Melbourne success, Xinhua said.

"Almost no other country resembles China, where a pair can play together from the time they are small and grow up together," the news agency said.