Tennis

The four Grand Slams of tennis dominate the sport's annual calendar, but every fourth year the increasingly important Olympic Games tournament rolls around.

The Chinese contingent, led by the nation's first major winner, Li Na, hopes to do better than the lone doubles bronze it won in 2008.

"More and more of the world's top players regard the Olympics as the biggest chance to win honor for themselves, as well as their country," said China's tennis chief, Sun Jinfang. "That means it will be more difficult for Chinese women to stand on the podium at the London Games."

Li said she will do her best to fight for a medal at her last Olympics, and she will have to shoulder extra weight on the doubles side.

The governing body forced Li, who has said she dislikes doubles, to team with Zhang Shuai.

China's other pair - Peng Shuai and Zheng Jie - has shown an ability to play at a high level on the pro tour and will hope to recapture the doubles gold medal China won in 2004.

(China Daily 07/12/2012 page23)