Chinese men fall at first hurdle in Beijing

BEIJING, Sep 12 (Reuters) The parlous state of men's tennis in China was exposed again this week when the only two local wild cards crashed out in the first round of the 500,000 dollar China Open.

While their women flourish with two grand slam doubles titles for Zheng Jie and Yan Zi and a Wimbledon quarter-final for Li Na this year, the men continue to struggle in the lower reaches of the game.

Wang Yu was beaten 7-6 6-3 by Slovenian qualifier Luka Gregorc today, while his compatriot Yu Xinyuan lost to Taiwan's Wang Yeu-Tzuoo 6-1 6-4 on the same Centre Court yesterday.

''I'm lacking big game experience -- actually that was only my second time playing on a central court,'' said Yu, who has been a professional since 2001.

''What I need is more chances to take on the best Europeans and Americans, not just play in Asia.'' The biggest male tennis hero for most Chinese is still American Michael Chang, who won an earlier version of the China Open for three successive years in the mid-1990s.

Since the tournament was revived in 2004, only two Chinese men have reached the second round.

''Now the Chinese men are making progress, though a little slower than the women. But we are making the effort,'' said 25-year-old Wang, ranked 484th in the world.

The Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) had great success with developing women's tennis by first concentrating on the doubles and then the singles. Now they are turning to the men.

''The financial backing from the CTA is now much better than before,'' Yu, who is ranked 540th in the world, said.

''Basically we are able to play any tournament we want to.'' The 21-year-old was back on court yesterday to reach the second round of the men's doubles and has high hopes of continental success in Qatar this December.

''My goal at the upcoming Asian Games is a medal,'' he said.

''I'm trying to make a breakthrough in the doubles.'' Yu's vanquisher on Monday, Wang Yeu-Tzuoo, said he thought there may be cultural barriers to singles success for mainland Chinese players.

''Tennis is a personal game,'' he said. ''We have our own ideas.

I know they are all cultivated by their national system.'' REUTERS PDS VV1716