2010 Feb 02 Talking Balls: Top Ten Tennis (& At Least One Uncomfortable Kiss)
It all proved to be a step too far for Li Na and Zheng Jie at the Australian Open. Both fell at the Semi-final hurdle. Li Na went down fighting to eventual winner Serena Williams. Zheng Jie was overwhelmed by the resurgent Justine Henin in just 51 minutes – the fastest match of the tournament.
The pair’s strong showings in Melbourne have vindicated the decision to let them split from the management of the Chinese Tennis Association. Gao Shenyang, Deputy Director of the CTA, said "These two players laid the groundwork last year and one year on, they have got a firm foothold. They are mature enough to manage themselves and have also proved that they now have a better understanding of tennis."
Despite going out in the Semis both have leapt forward in the rankings. Zheng Jie is up 15 spots to 20th while Li Na improved seven places to become the first Chinese player with a Top 10 ranking. China’s women’s success has put a focus on the absence of the nation’s men from the pro tour. When asked about the men, Li Na joked “They're still sleeping. They didn't wake up, someday they will wake up."
Football corruption kept the Golden Flowers’ exploits in Melbourne off the sports pages. The General Manager of the Chinese Super League is believed to be in police custody. This followed the detention of the three top officials in the Chinese Football Association last week. Even though over 100 players, owners and officials have been arrested in the probe the CSL season is meant to start on March 20th.
One man who will be there is Joel Griffiths. The Australian has returned to Beijing Guoan and judging by the reaction of one young lady (see above, kiss fans) the Beijing faithful are glad to have him back. Gosh.
Another player has joined Zheng Zhi in playing for a top-class European side. Hao Junmin has swapped Tianjin for Germany’s Schalke 04. The side, currently third in the Bundesliga, have contracted the 22-year old for 18 months. Hao is the third Chinese player to play in the German top flight. The difference between him and countrymen Yang Chen and Shao Jiayi is that he is the first to be offered a contract with having to trial. Hao may make his debut this weekend at Freiburg.
Zheng Zhi has had a poor week for Celtic. Last week brought a 2-1 loss at home to Hibernian and a 1-0 win over Hamilton. Zheng started both games fielded in an unfamiliar wing role. He was substituted in both outings.
The qualifiers for the newly-sponsored Sanyuan Foods 2010 World Snooker China Open begin today. They take place in Wales. Odd as that is the qualifiers for the event which begins on March 29th will be known this Friday.
A story which has received much attention so far amongst sports fans is the arrival of Stephon Marbury in Shanxi. Marbury’s decision appears to be as business related as it is sporting but he posted 15 points on his debut. That ultimately counted for nothing as his new team lost 102-101 to Dongguan.
Finally, Mengke Bateer has furthered his film career. His latest role is as a Herculean-type in upcoming comedy The Arrival of Money God. It sounds hilarious, and if he says so then we’re not arguing.
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Talking Balls: Li Na Loses, Fights at the Football & Olympic Scandal
China's best tennis player ever, Li Na, crashed out of Wimbledon at just the second round. The number three seed lost to Germany's Sabine Lisnicki - whose victory marked a remarkable comeback from a career-threatening ankle injury - after winning the first set and being 5-3 up in the third set.
That was not all that Li lost at the All England Club. She also managed to misplace her husband who stormed out of Centre Court during the middle of the second set. Li, as always, reacted to the inevitable questions in the post-match press conference with the quotes we have come to expect:
Journalist: "Have you found your husband yet?"
Li Na: "I don't know where he was going, so when I find him I will tell you"Talking Balls: Read All About It - Weekend Sports Shorts
China’s men went out to hosts Canada in the quarters of the World Curling Championships. There is still no word on when and where the Chinese National Championships will be held in Beijing this month.
Sun Yang and Liu Zige got close to Asian records at the Chinese Spring National Championships. The swimmers will be heartened by their displays in the lead-up to Shanghai-held World Championships.
I Guess That's Why They Call Them The Blues: Birmingham A Better Bet Than Barca?
You watched the World Cup. As it went on you began to like it ever more. By the point of the final you were packed into a bar with hundreds of others. It was a Sunday night and well past your bedtime but that is how much you love soccer. The good news is that this love affair can continue even though the fat lady has sung, you can even take it to the next level by getting some real live football into you.
There are three options as to how to do this.
1. Watch Beijing Guoan in the CSL.
2. Watch FC Barcelona vs. Beijing Guoan on August 8th at the Bird's Nest.
3. Watch Brimingham City FC vs. Beijing Guoan on July 21st at the Bird's Nest."No contest," you say "it's Barcelona all the way." Well you're wrong and as much as it pains me to tell you here's why - and no, I'm not going to suggest you watch the CSL.
Talking Balls: Snooker Scalpings & Soccer Stars
Ticket touting has long been the scourge of sports in the West, and if you go further West you’d know it as scalping. Here in China it’s often to the benefit of fans. Take the example recorded by a Sina reporter yesterday at the Sanyuan Foods China Open (that’s snooker, by the way) and the bargains to be had. He was offered a ticket with a face value of RMB 200 for RMB 100 which is 50% off for starters but the seasoned spectator showed no interest. The tout’s response in the face of such indifference? “80? 50? 20? 10 kuai! You can’t go below that!”
The moral of the story is that those out to make a quick buck on the back of the interest of sports fans don’t always win. Actually, that’s too long. The moral is that you can save plenty of cash buying tickets on the street. We don’t encourage this though.
Talking Balls: Champs and Chumps
Beijing Guoan are playing their third game in the AFC Champions’ League tonight. Their opponents are Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma of Korea. Chances are that it will be as snowy an affair as their previous away game in Japan.
The CSL kicks off this weekend. Guoan start with a match against Nanchang Bayi on Saturday at 7.30pm. Apparently there will be an opening ceremony too.
Guoan have two home games in April. April 4 is the visit of Shenzhen Ruby and April 18 is Shaanxi Chanba. Tickets available at Workers' Stadium and 5905 9082.
