CHINA TOPIX

04/24/2024 02:14:56 am

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Tennis News: Peng Shuai of China Struggling to get in top Shape Ahead of Rio Olympics

peng shuai

(Photo : gettyimages.com) Peng will be representing China in the singles event along with the 2016 Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai.

Women's Tennis Association former doubles world No. 1 Peng Shuai of China is reportedly having difficulties getting into shape as she prepares for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil this August.

According to Shanghai Daily, on Thursday, the 30-year-old native of Xiangtan, Hunan was among the four Chinese tennis players in the provisional list of the singles and doubles entries for the Rio 2016 that was announced by the sport's governing body the International Tennis Federation. Peng will be representing China in the singles event together with the 2016 Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai.

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Peng will also team up with Zhang in the doubles event. While Chinese tennis tandem Zheng Saisai and Xu Yifan will take China's other women's doubles spot in Rio.

Peng fell at the opening round of the ongoing 130th edition of the Wimbledon Grand Slam in London, United Kingdom. The Chinese tennis ace lost to the tournament's 18th-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States in two-straight sets 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 on Wednesday, June 29.

Peng, who was a 2014 U.S. Open semifinalist, is still recovering from a waist surgery she underwent in May last year, according to Xinhua.  The female tennis player currently holds the 264th spot in the WTA's world rankings for singles and sits on the 147th place in doubles.

"I am really honored to represent the country to play in the Olympics. I don't know for sure if my form will be back to top at that time but I will try my best, even if the recovery is slow," Peng, who started tennis at the age of eight, said.

Peng is known in the tennis world for her stamina and plays with her two hands. She has defeated many top players including Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Martina Hingis, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, and Anastasia Myskina.

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