Never has a Chinese tennis player been the subject of so much criticism, sparked so many career concerns, or been so crucial to the future of the country's Olympic success. Is Peng Shuai ready for the Games?

Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai returns a ball in her match against third-seeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo at the Beijing Tennis Center in this September 21, 2007 file photo. Peng beat Mauresmo 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to grab the last berth of the last four at the China Open WTA tournament. [Xinhua]The answer is: Yes.

With the Olympic tournament clearly the most important tennis event for this sports-crazed nation, a self-assured Li Na is penciled in as the top choice to win China its first singles' medal. Zheng Jie and Yan Zi are hoping to repeat China's dream doubles showing in Athens, where Sun Tiantian and Li Ting won gold.

Li Na, Zheng and Yan have proven themselves at the WTA level, but Peng - blessed with great talent but the "worst-ever" mentality - is the team's lone X-factor.

Peng knows she has a lot to prove at the Beijing Olympics.

"I just want to plunge into the Olympic battle for my country, that's all I want to do right now," she said. "It is my career tournament and it is my dream to represent my motherland at the highest stage and win glory and applause for it."

Dubbed "China's Monica Seles", the 22-year-old from Hunan, now ranked world No 51, was once widely considered China's most gifted player with her powerful double-handed strokes.

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