China is about to launch a triple assault on the French Open -- 12 months after Zheng Jie made history by becoming the first Chinese woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Zheng returns this year along with national No 1 Li Na and Peng Shuai who are all in the top hundred in the world, and will be in the main draw here, while Sun Tiantian has reached the second round of qualifying.

The country's best hope of progress at Roland Garros lies with Li who recently reached 33 in the world, the highest ever ranking ever achieved by a Chinese woman.

She also had the pleasure of becoming the first Chinese woman to clinch a WTA Tour title with victory in Guangzhou with Zheng also picking up a title in Hobart in January.

Not to be outdone, Sun Tiantian and Li Ting teamed up to win the Olympic doubles gold in Athens last summer.

Li Na, the 23-year-old from Wuhan, made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open this year where she made the third round before losing to Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova.

Li switched from badminton to tennis at the age of eight on the advice of her coach and it is a decision which is paying off.

"He said that I played badminton like a tennis player, so he suggested I start playing tennis," said Li.

World No 1 Lindsay Davenport admits she has been impressed by the rise of the Chinese women.

"China's come a long way in producing a bunch of players," said the American after witnessing at first hand the abilities of the Chinese in Melbourne.

"All of a sudden they've got five or six legitimate players in the top hundred that are improving rapidly. I've heard that because of the Olympics next time around, they've put a lot of money into it and are trying to develop these players. It seems to have really helped.

"Five years ago, I don't remember any player from China. Now we've got five or six good ones."

Zheng too believes that her performances here last year will inspire other Chinese girls to take up the sport.

"I think because of what I achieved here it will have a good influence and that more people will take up the game," said the 21-year-old, currently ranked world number 56.

"There are more and more Chinese girls taking part in tennis and with government support more can travel abroad to play."

(China Daily May 21, 2005)