LONDON: China’s Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan have forged a tennis doubles partnership that bridges the divide between the two sides, saying sport can take the heat out of the toughest situations.
The pairing, who play in the Wimbledon women’s doubles semi-finals on Friday, say their partnership is all about firm friendship - and they leave the political stuff to others.
Peng Shuai and Su-wei, born four days apart in January 1986, have been mates since their junior days and won the first of their five tour titles together back in 2008.
Their closeness has endured and the warmth between the 27-year-olds is obvious, with the pair constantly laughing and joking in each other’s company.
“After a long time playing together, we still have some tough days; sometimes I will not play really good, sometimes her. We have to help each other and we both try together,” said Peng Shuai.
“We have good times and winning tournaments makes us really happy.”
Su-wei added: “She plays most of the court and I stay by the sidelines! She’s working very hard. We enjoy it.
“If we don’t fight there will be no problem!”, she joked.
Peng Shuai said: “We speak the same language and we’ve known each other and been friends since we were young. We have fun and we really enjoy our tennis.
“I also love going to Taiwan and after Wimbledon she will come to Beijing and if she gets time, I will try to show her some Peking duck!”
Taiwan and China have remained technically at war since Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949 at the end of a civil war.
The island still styles itself the “Republic of China”. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and insists that the two entities must eventually reunite, by force if necessary.
However, tensions have eased markedly since Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou came to power in 2008. - AFP
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