Zheng Jie pulls out of Australian Open warm-up due to injury
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-07 21:02

Chinese sensation Zheng Jie pulled out of her exhibition match Saturday due to a left-knee injury, which shadowed her plan to play in the upcoming Australian Open.

Zheng fell during her match against emerging Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova at the Champions Challenge, hurting her already bandaged left knee.

Zheng Jie of China speaks during a news conference at the Champions Challenge tennis tournament in Hong Kong January 6, 2006. Serena Williams of the U.S. on Friday withdrew from the semi-final match against Zheng after suffering an injury on her knee.[Reuters]

The China National Games champion said she would seek immediate treatment but was unsure whether she could recover in time to compete in the Australian Open starting in nine days.

"I will have to go back to the mainland for treatment. I will see a doctor in Hong Kong first but I am hoping to play in both the singles and doubles of the Australian Open," she said.

Zheng earlier won praise from world number two Kim Clijsters who said the 22-year-old Chinese was a talented player and one to watch in future, when she took a set off the US Open champion this week before losing in three sets.

The Australian Open is slated for January 16-29 in Melbourne.