Li Ting and Sun Tiantian, encouraged by the triumph over
powerful Williams/Rubin in the first round of women's doubles, won
the semi-final against Argentine veterans Suarez/Tarabini 6-2, 2-6,
9-7 Friday, securing at least a silver medal in tennis for China
for the first time.
Li and Sun, seeded No.8 in the Olympic tennis tournament, won
the first set easily by breaking three serving games of
Suarez/Tarabini, No.7 seeds.
However, the Argentine made a quick revenge with the same score,
suddenly increasing the pressure on the Chinese rookies.
The two pairs played a seesaw game by tighting with each other
6-6, exhausting 36-year-old Tarabini and 28-year-old Suarez, who
fell at the door of the Olympic final, filled with
disappointment.
"It's really an unbelievable excitement to enter the final,"
said Li, adding that she had the mental preparation to win the
match, which she regarded as a close one, leaving the winning
chance for each pair at 50-50.
Though disappointed, Suarez still gave high valuation on their
opponents by saying "they are young and have future".
"The Chinese played better at important points. We lost the
match in the details," said Suarez.
(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2004)