The rise and rise of China`s women

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2004

August - Sun Tiantian and Li Ting win China's first Olympic gold medal in the sport in the women's doubles at the Athens Games.

October - Li Na is the first Chinese to win a WTA Tour singles title, in Guangzhou.

2005

January - Zheng Jie wins her first WTA Tour title at Hobart.

2006

January - Zheng Jie and Yan Zi win China's first grand slam title in the women's doubles at the Australian Open.

May - Zheng wins the first all-Chinese final at a WTA event when Li Na withdraws injured from the Estoril final.

June - Li Na becomes the first Chinese player to reach the quarter-finals of grand slam at Wimbledon. Zheng and Yan win a second grand slam doubles title.

July - Li Na and Zheng lead China's team into the Fed Cup World Group for the first time with a victory over Germany in Beijing.

August - Li Na becomes the first Chinese player to reach the top 20 in the world rankings.

2008

June - Zheng, a 133rd-ranked wildcard, beats top seed Ana Ivanovic on her way to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, the first Chinese to reach the last four at a grand slam.

August - Zheng and Yan win bronze in women's doubles at the Beijing Olympics, while Li Na misses out on a medal after defeat to Vera Zvonareva in the bronze medal match.

2010

January - Zheng and Li Na reach the last four at the Australian Open, the first time China has had two players in the last four at a grand slam.