China hopes to overcome the fatigue of their successful Wimbledon performance in a crucial Fed Cup play-off tie against Germany this weekend in Beijing.

 

China's No 1 - and world No 22 - Li Na will spearhead the inspired host team, less than two weeks after she became the first Chinese quarter-finalist at Wimbledon,

 

Her team-mate, Zheng Jie, will have a tougher task, as the world No 34 is likely to play both singles and doubles in the two-day tie held at Beijing International Tennis Center, four days after she returned from Wimbledon where she made it to the singles third round and won a doubles trophy with Yan Zi.

 

However, China is playing without their No 2, Peng Shuai, another third-round finisher at Wimbledon who is suffering from an injury she picked up during the Wimbledon four-round match.

 

"Definitely, the team is tired after playing eight tournaments in Europe, including the French Open and Wimbledon," said Chinese skipper, Jiang Hongwei.

 

Worldwide Wimbledon has taken toll on Fed Cup ties this weekend when Belgium and France were stripped of Wimbledon finalists Justine Henin-Hardenne and Amelie Mauresmo who have withdrawn after their All England Club exploits.

 

But Jiang said the team is relying on a fighting spirit to land another landmark success. "The Fed Cup is a team competition and we hope to show a fighting spirit during the tournament," he said.

 

According to the draw released on Friday, Li starts the tournament, playing Germany's Kristina Barrois, world No 129 on Saturday. Zheng will next play Kathrin Woerle, world No 154, in the second singles match.

 

After two reserved singles on Sunday, Wimbledon champions Zheng and Yan will be China's final stronghold if the tournament goes into the deciding doubles match. They will then play Tatiana Malek and Jasmin Woehr.

 

The visiting German team also has to sideline their No 1 and the 16th-ranked Anna-Lena Groenefeld, who suffered an ankle injury in the doubles at Wimbledon.

 

"The draw is not really very exciting," said German skipper Barbara Rittner. "We didn't care who started, as Kristina is ready to play as well as the Chinese team. It (the draw) doesn't really matter. We hope to play good matches and see what happens."

 

Although the Chinese team is cautious to predict the victory, it stands at an ideal opportunity to jump into the World Group I this time. The home team has a clear advantage since all the Chinese singles players rank much higher than their German opponents.

 

China was defeated by Germany in both of their two previous meetings in 1982 and 1984.

 

Henin-Hardenne, Mauresmo missing

 

This weekend Fed Cup ties will also see Henin-Hardenne missing Belgium's semi-final with the United States in Ostend, after declaring herself "not 100-percent fit". Also, Mauresmo, France's first Wimbledon champion in 81 years is skipping the play-off with the Czech Republic due to an injured groin.

 

Triple French Open champion Henin-Hardenne had been key to her country's hopes of making the final alongside Kim Clijsters.

 

"It's a big disappointment," said Belgian skipper Carl Maes of Henin-Hardenne's withdrawal.

 

"With Justine, we had the best two players in the world in the last two or three months. Now the tie against the US will be a little more equal.

 

"It's understandable that she doesn't want to play if she is not 100 percent."

 

Henin-Hardenne will be replaced in the squad by Leslie Butkiewicz, the world No 509 - with Clijsters, the world No 2, Kirsten Flipkens (122) and Caroline Maes (399) making up the team.

 

Belgium had defeated reigning champions Russia in the last eight.

 

USA skipper Zina Garisson is also without her best players, with Serena and Venus Williams as well as Lindsay Davenport are all out of action.

 

Their leading player is Jamea Jackson (world ranked 67) who is accompanied by Jill Craybas (70), Vania King (79) and Mashona Washington (134).

 

(China Daily July 15, 2006)