20 | Monday, July 19, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY SPORTS OLYMPICS From left: Xu Yifan, Yang Zhaoxuan and Duan Yingying will represent China in women’s doubles at the Tokyo Olympics, where the action gets underway on the court on Saturday. XINHUA / PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Serving the nation with pride China’s tennis aces making big personal sacrifices to represent country at pandemic-hit Tokyo Games Editor’s Note: In the fifth install- ment of China Daily’s Tokyo Olym- pics preview series, we take an in- depth look at the Chinese women’s Whenever and tennis squad. wherever we have the By SUN XIAOCHEN opportunity to [email protected] represent our country, With a growing list of internation- it’s a no-brainer, al stars giving Tokyo 2020 a miss, especially when it China’s patriotic tennis aces have embraced the pandemic-hit Games comes to playing at as an opportunity to emulate their the Olympics.” predecessors’ Olympic success. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal Wang Qiang, are among a host of top players to Chinese women’s No 1 have opted out of the Olympic tournament. “Our approach is to combine pow- Some, like Federer, have cited inju- er on the baseline with agility at the ries or a desire to stay focused on the net,” said Yang. professional circuit, while others “Both of our pairs fit in the combi- have blamed concerns over the nation and have proved that they health risks and restrictions mandat- can be competitive once the chemis- ed by organizers. “It’s really tough try is working.” with these restrictions. It puts a lot of Xu, a doubles specialist, teamed pressure on you,” Canada’s world No with Yang Zhaoxuan to win gold at 10 Denis Shapovalov said at Wimble- the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, don earlier this month. while Zheng and Duan reached the China’s finest, though, did not 2019 French Open final — China’s hesitate to answer their country’s best run at a major in recent years. call, even at the cost of ranking The women’s singles draw, mean- points and prize money from the while, is wide open following the tour events they will miss. withdrawals of a long list of stars, “Whenever and wherever we have including 23-time major winner the opportunity to represent our Serena Williams, German star Angel- country, it’s a no-brainer, especially ique Kerber, 2019 US Open champi- when it comes to playing at the Wang Qiang and Zheng Saisai (below) are China’s representatives in the women’s singles draw at the Tokyo Olympics. World No 47 Wang on Bianca Andreescu of Canada, and Olympics,” Chinese women’s No 1 arrives at the Games in encouraging form, having reached the final of a WTA event in Italy in May. XINHUA Romania’s two-time Grand Slam Wang Qiang said before the nation- champion Simona Halep. al team left for Tokyo on a chartered China’s top ace Wang hopes to flight on Sunday. for a month risks a drop off in con- In terms of prestige, the four maintain her recent momentum “Mentally, it’s a great honor and sistency, but Chinese players reckon Grand Slams remain more impor- with a deep run in Tokyo. perhaps more pressure. But tactical- that they can never be too careful tant than the Olympic tennis tour- “I spent a long time in the first ly, I will just approach the Olympics while the pandemic threat remains. nament. Yet, 17 years ago, Li Ting half of this season to get my game the same way as I do for any of the With four days to go before the and Sun Tiantian’s women’s doubles and confidence back after a long tour events,” said the world No 47. delayed Games open on Friday in gold medal at the 2004 Athens break from the tour last year due to “It’s still tennis at the end of the Tokyo, COVID-19 infections have Games proved to be a game-changer the pandemic. I just want to keep it day. So we just focus on making every been surging in the Japanese capi- for the sport in China. going at the Olympics,” said Wang, day count in our preparations and try tal, with organizers on Sunday Triggered by that breakthrough, who reached a WTA final in Parma, to give all we have on the court.” reporting that two athletes and a the sport has since flourished in Chi- Italy in May. Wang is joined in the 64-player team colleague had tested positive na, with more tour-level tourna- Wang attributes a large part of women’s singles draw by 53rd- in the Olympic Village. ments being staged and Chinese her improvement to the guidance ranked teammate Zheng Saisai. Two “Under the special circumstances players enjoying greater success on of new coach Pat Cash, the Austra- pairs — Yang Zhaoxuan and Xu of the pandemic, it’s necessary to the court — most notably Li Na’s two lian legend who began working Yifan, and Duan Yingying and give up some tournaments to stay major wins, at the 2011 French Open with the 29-year-old in January. Zheng — will represent China in the safe together and make sure we and 2014 Australian Open. “He’s always positive, encourag- 32-team doubles tournament in head to Tokyo healthy and prepared However, with no Chinese players ing me to look at the bright side of Tokyo. No Chinese men have quali- ... so our national duty won’t be jeop- managing to progress beyond the not just tennis but also life off the fied for any tennis event. ardized,” said Zheng, who will quarterfinals, in either singles or court,” said Wang. “My game gets Observing a vigilant pre-Games appear at her second Olympics after doubles, at the previous two Games, more versatile and aggressive under health protocol devised by the Chi- playing doubles with Xu at the 2016 surface as the Olympic courts and “Our target is to raise our national more Olympic success would be a his watch.” nese Olympic Committee, all five Rio Games. upgrading services for fitness, rehab flag on the court at the Olympics,” timely shot in the arm for tennis in With Cash unable to travel to players pulled out of the grass-court To better facilitate the prepara- and nutrition. said national team head coach Yang the world’s most populous nation. Tokyo, Wang said the 1987 Wimble- season in early June to return home tions, the Chinese Tennis Associa- The tennis action in Tokyo is Weiguang. “We are confident know- Head coach Yang is hopeful both don champion will keep a close eye and train together in Rizhao, Shan- tion refurbished the training center scheduled for July 24-Aug 1, with Chi- ing that we’ve done what we can to doubles pairs are well-equipped to on her performances at the Games dong province. in Rizhao, a city with a similar cli- na aiming to spring some surprises prepare for the event. We will give deliver, having played regularly and offer timely tips for her to further Missing out on tour-level events mate to Tokyo, by laying the same and even step onto the podium. our utmost to compete for our goals.” together on the tour. improve her serve and shot variety. Digest OLYMPICS Earlier this year, the Beijing 2022 letes. The three infections were IOC backs transgender been established by the Internation- The Bucks fought their way out of 2022 construction to Organizing Committee (BOCOG) revealed as competitors fly in from weightlifter selection al Weightlifting Federation before an early 16-point hole by flirting be done by October confirmed the completion of the around the world for the pandemic- the qualifications started,” said IOC with the best-shooting night in NBA Beijing Winter Olympic Village, the delayed Olympics, which are facing The International Olympic Com- president Thomas Bach. “These Finals history, but then won it by Construction work for the 2022 Main Media Center, the National significant opposition in Japan due mittee on Saturday backed New Zea- rules apply, and you cannot change making a huge defensive play. Beijing Winter Olympics in the Chi- Sliding Center, the National Alpine to their COVID-19 risks. land’s selection of transgender rules during ongoing competitions.” They can win their first title since nese capital will be completed by Skiing Center and Yanqing Winter Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa weightlifter Laurel Hubbard for the 1971 in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. October with the renovation of the Olympic Village. Takaya said the three cases “were Tokyo Olympics despite criticism, BASKETBALL “One more to go. One more to go,” National Stadium, Beijing Major from the same country and sport”. saying that under the current rules Jrue grit puts Bucks Antetokounmpo said. “We’ve got to Projects confirmed on Saturday. Athletes’ positive tests They are “isolated in their rooms — which will be reviewed in future keep playing good basketball.” The National Stadium, aka the and Tokyo 2020 is delivering meals — she can compete. on brink of NBA glory Booker had 40 points, but with Bird’s Nest, will become the first raise fears of outbreak to them”, he said, adding that the Hubbard is set to become the first Jrue Holiday seized his chance to the Suns down one with 16 seconds venue in history to stage the open- Two athletes have tested positive rest of the team have also been test- transgender athlete to compete at give the Milwaukee Bucks the lead left, Holiday wrestled the ball out of ing and closing ceremonies for both for the coronavirus in the Tokyo ed.