体坛英语新闻：Tennis Roundup: China's women cruises into semis, men's team out

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Top seed China's women tennis team easily booked its berth in the semifinals of the Asian Games, but men's team was sent home by second seed Japan here on Sunday.

On the women's side, China, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Japan moved into Monday's semis.

Li Na, Grand Slam semifinalist in Australia and currently world number 11, showed nerves of steel in her straight sets win over Kyrgyz player Ksenis Palkina, 6-0, 6-4.

"It's just fine," Li said of her debut in front of home fans. "Four years ago, we were defeated by Uzbekistan at the Doha Asian Games. This time we won't repeat the failure," she added.

China's women team, top favourite of the 2006 Doha Games, tasted sorrow four years ago with an unexpected defeat to Uzbekistan in the semifinals, leaving gold to defending champion Chinese Taipei.

Li's performance on Sunday also won appreciation from her component. "Li played really good. She is strong, clever and has good experience," said Palkina after the match.

"It is the first time I was playing against such a strong player. She performed better than me," the Kyrgyz added.

Li's triumph was joined by her teammate Peng Shuai, who defeated Kyrgyzstan's Bermet Duvanaeva 6-1, 6-2 in another singles in less than one hour, and pair Yan Zi and Peng Shuai, who beat Berment Duvanaeva and Ksenia Palkina 6-4, 6-2 in the women's doubles.

"I felt a little bit nervous in front of my own crowd," said Peng Shuai after the competition. "It is a good start for the Chinese team," she added.