Games more exciting than Wimbledon, says Peng

Peng Shuai of China celebrates after defeating Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands in their women's singles tennis match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 29, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

China's Peng Shuai said the Olympic tennis tournament will be much more exciting than Wimbledon as it is a one-off special with national pride at stake.

Peng will be back at the All-England Club later this month preparing to play her part in the London 2012 Games.

The national No 3 is looking forward to transforming a large house in the plush Wimbledon area into the headquarters for China's Olympic tennis dreams.

Peng said the thought of competing in an event that comes around once every four years was more gripping than regular majors, which come once a month this time of year.

It's more exciting and it's also more pressure because it's not like a regular tournament," she said after she was beaten in the fourth round in a 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-3 defeat to 17th seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia. "Every year we have large events, every year we have four Grand Slams.

"But this one is different and it's on grass rather than hard courts, so you never know what could happen."

Wimbledon is in southwest London, right across the British capital from the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, meaning the Chinese tennis party could be holed up together in the quiet, genteel district rather than spread about in the Olympic Village.

And that is just the way world No 34 Peng would like it.

"Maybe we will stay in Wimbledon village because the Olympic Park could be an hour and a half away. So because we will play singles and doubles I think they will rent a house and everybody will stay in the village - it's closer," she said.

Peng, Zheng Jie and Li Na are all in the Olympic women's singles draw.

Peng and Zheng will team up for the doubles, while Li will compete alongside Zhang Shuai.