Zheng proves a hit with fans

With so much support back in China, Zheng Jie, the first player from her country to reach a grand slam semi-final, was determined to put on a good show for her army of new fans.

And if a win against two-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams was too much to ask for, the legions of Zheng supporters will have been thrilled at the way she battled and pushed her opponent.

After losing the first set 6-2, the second was a different story as the 24-year-old went a break up and even had a set point on the formidable Williams serve.

But it was not to be, the American holding her nerve to claim a 6-2 7-6 (7-5) win.

Afterwards, Zheng, whose quarter-final win against Nicole Vaidisova was reportedly watched by 100 million people in China, said: "I knew there were millions and millions of people watching me back home."

"I did really want to win. But overall I'm quite satisfied with the performance."

"But her serve was too big for me, especially on the grass court. On other courts, probably I would have had a better chance."

Zheng revealed she may have put too much pressure on herself when she found herself with set point as Williams served at 6-5 down.

"I thought (I could win) when I had set point in the second set," she said.

"Probably I was thinking too much about it, then I didn't get the chance. I lost the set point."

Zheng competed well from the baseline, with the low, flat groundstrokes which did for world No.1 Ana Ivanovic earlier in the tournament again in evidence.

Zheng, who is listed as being 5ft 4 1/2in in height, was conscious of making the most of her biggest weapon: her backhand.

"I've always been aware that my backhand is stronger than my forehand," she said.

"During today's match, actually I was winning more points than Serena did in the baseline battle."

"However, her serve was simply too big."

Zheng said the most memorable thing about her experience was that 'lots of people in Centre Court supported me'.

But there will be many, many more when she returns to China in search of Olympic glory.

"I don't know if they will treat me like a hero or not, but I will use this experience from Wimbledon to have better expectations in the Olympics and to have better achievements," she said.

Zheng's exploits have caught the eyes of some important people back in China.

"People from the Sichuan provincial government have congratulated me, as well as from other provincial governments," she said.

"They have already telephoned to the tennis association to congratulate me. I thank them very much."

Zheng's semi-final defeat has denied her the opportunity of competing for the Wimbledon crown on the day of her 25th birthday, but she plans to stick around to watch the contest between Serena and sister Venus.

"I hope I can watch the final here," she said. "I feel maybe that Serena has more chance to win, but I think it's a great final."