Tennis: French Open: Precocious Peng Puts Davenport on Red Alert

It cannot be long before the world's major women's tournaments have as many Chinese in the draw as currently there are Russians and East Europeans. The Chinese government is pouring money into the sport and success is bound to follow.

But for the time being those pioneers such as Shuai Peng are not finding life easy at the grand slam championships, although yesterday she was within two points of beating Lindsay Davenport, the world No1, in the second round.

Peng served for the match at 6-3, 5-4 only to discover why the American is a triple grand slam champion, albeit never at Roland Garros. With her back to the wall Davenport finally began to play with some conviction and thereafter rushed past the Chinese teenager, who was making her grand slam debut, 3-6, 7-6, 6-0.

"She hits the ball very well. The first step in tennis is to be able to hit winners and she's able to do that, so I'm sure she'll get better as she gets older," said Davenport.

"God, it was funny. Normally you have one aspect of your game that you don't feel is going that well. Today I really felt not that great about almost every part."

Last year Jie Zheng became the first Chinese woman to reach the top 50 and also, in Paris, became the first to make the last 16 of a grand-slam event.

Kim Clijsters, who came to Roland Garros under an another injury cloud, also reached the last 32 with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Slovakia's Ludmila Cervanova. Her right knee may be taped up like a parcel but her movement does not appear to be affected.

"I'm wearing the tape to protect myself but I feel good. I haven't really been tested yet, which is OK as it allows me to get some match rhythm," said Clijsters, four times a losing finalist at grand slam tournaments, including in Paris in 2001 against Jennifer Capriati, and against her fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne two years ago.