Zheng first into Australian Open quarter-finals
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![Zheng Jie of China returns the ball during the fourth round match of women's singles against Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine in 2010 Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Jan. 24, 2010. Zheng Jie won 2-0. [Wang Lili/Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20100124/000cf1a48b7f0cc63a8f43.jpg "Zheng Jie of China returns the ball during the fourth round match of women's singles against Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine in 2010 Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Jan. 24, 2010. Zheng Jie won 2-0. [Wang Lili/Xinhua]")
China's Zheng Jie became the first player to reach the quarterfinals at the Australian Open after she powered past 31st seeded Ukranian Alona Bondarenko 7-6 (4), 6-4.
The unseeded Zheng is the first Chinese player ever to reach the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.
The victory also means that Zheng, the 2008 Wimbledon semifinalist, has now knocked out seeded players in three consecutive rounds after defeating Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, the 24th seed, and then upsetting 11th seed Marion Bartoli of France in round three.
She will face either Maria Kirilenko or No. 2 seed Dinara Safina for a place in the semifinals.
"I think everybody has a chance for the semifinal," said Zheng at the post-match press conference.
The first set saw six breaks of serve, and Bondarenko held set points at 5-4 before being broken. It seemed that neither player could hang onto a lead, and it was Zheng who was able to finally capitalize on errors by her opponent to win the set in a tight tie-breaker.
In the second set, more of the same ensued, with multiple breaks of serve being gifted by both players with double faults and repeated errors. Again, Zheng managed to edge out Bondarenko, holding serve when it mattered to reach the quarterfinals.
