Chinese trio Li Na, Zheng Jie and Yan Zi returned to Beijing yesterday after their Wimbledon heroics, determined to continue their stellar year by guiding their country into the Fed Cup elite for the first time.

The hosts take on a young Germany team lacking their best player, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, at the Beijing International Tennis Center this weekend with a place in the 2007 World Group at stake.

Li became China's first singles Grand Slam quarterfinalist at the All England Club last week while Zheng and Yan won China's first Wimbledon title and their second Grand Slam women's doubles title of the year Sunday.

"I will certainly play in the match if my country asks me to, no matter what my situation is," said Li, who is No. 22 in the latest WTA rankings, at a news conference yesterday.

Zheng and Yan are now No. 3 and No. 4 in women's doubles.

China's other singles player in their 4-0 World Group II defeat of Indonesia in April was Peng Shuai, who is struggling with a knee problem she picked up at Wimbledon.

"Peng Shuai's injury is not severe but she has been receiving treatment and hasn't joined in training," China's national team captain Chen Qimin said.

"Whether she plays depends on how her treatment goes."

Zheng, however, is no slouch in the singles, reaching the third round at the All England Club to boost her ranking to 34th in the world.

(Shenzhen Daily/Agencies July 13, 2006)