Li Ting and Sun Tiantian, encouraged by the triumph over powerful Williams/Rubin in the first round of women's doubles, won the semi-final against Argentine veterans Suarez/Tarabini 6-2, 2-6, 9-7 Friday, securing at least a silver medal in tennis for China for the first time.

Li and Sun, seeded No.8 in the Olympic tennis tournament, won the first set easily by breaking three serving games of Suarez/Tarabini, No.7 seeds.

However, the Argentine made a quick revenge with the same score, suddenly increasing the pressure on the Chinese rookies.

The two pairs played a seesaw game by tighting with each other 6-6, exhausting 36-year-old Tarabini and 28-year-old Suarez, who fell at the door of the Olympic final, filled with disappointment.

"It's really an unbelievable excitement to enter the final," said Li, adding that she had the mental preparation to win the match, which she regarded as a close one, leaving the winning chance for each pair at 50-50.

Though disappointed, Suarez still gave high valuation on their opponents by saying "they are young and have future".

"The Chinese played better at important points. We lost the match in the details," said Suarez.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2004)