Nenad Zimonjic of

Serbia (L) and Sun Tiantian of China react during the mixed doubles semifinal against Mark Knowles of Bahamas and Yan Zi of China at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2008. Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Sun Tiantian of China won 2-1. [Xinhua]

 

Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia (L) and Sun Tiantian of China react during the mixed doubles semifinal against Mark Knowles of Bahamas and Yan Zi of China at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2008. Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Sun Tiantian of China won 2-1. (Xinhua Photo)

 

China kept their Australian Open hope alive as Sun Tiantian paired up with Serbian Nenad Zimonjic to qualify for the mixed doubles final in Melbourne on Friday.

 

Sun/Zimonjic came back from one set down to overcome fellow Chinese Yan Zi and Mark Knowles from Bahamas 4-6, 7-5, 10-6 to take on Indian pair Sania Mirza/Mahesh Bhupathi, who pushed aside eighth seed French Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram of Israel 6-4, 6-2 in another semifinal on Friday.

 

"I did not have any pressure. Nenad told me before the match just to play fun so I did," said Sun, who partnered with Li Ting to win the women's doubles at the Athens Olympic Games four years ago.

 

"Actually we had a lot of chances in the first set but failed to convert them. I think I was lucky to come through because Yan Zi also played a good match," she added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2008)