In the first ever all-Chinese final in the history of the World
Tennis Association, Zheng Jie beat her compatriot Li Na 6-7 (5-7)
7-5 after Li abandoned the last set suffering muscle cramps at the
Estoril Open tennis in Portugal on Sunday.
With Sunday's title, Zheng won the second singles of her career
after the Hobart Open in 2005, and also 22,900 euros. Zheng reached
the quarter finals in Estoril last year, and won the doubles in
this year's Australian Open partnering compatriot Yan Zi.
Li, 24, was the first Chinese players to win a WTA title in
Guangzhou in 2004, and reached the final in Estoril last year. She
won 11,450 euros on Sunday.
Zheng told reporters she was happy with her victory, adding "Li
Na was a finalist last year, and it was a shame she had to retire
due to physical problems this year. It has been a very good
tournament for both of us, because we also won the doubles
competition."
China's Li Ting and Sun Tiantian won Saturday's doubles title,
beating Spain's Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo and Argentina's
Gisela Dulko 6-2, 6-2.
(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2006)