Zheng Jie and Yan Zi failed to make history after losing two straight sets at the quarter-finals of the women's doubles in the US Open Tennis Championship.

The Chinese pair lost to third-seeded Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain: 6-3, 6-4.

The Chinese players were the clear underdogs in the match. Despite this they got off to a good start and their service was not broken for the first six games. From this point on though the Spanish team moved ahead, breaking service to win the first set. The Chinese pair fought even harder in the second set, but were unable to turn the game around.

To date, no Chinese pair had ever reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament.

(CRI September 8, 2005)