PARIS -- Without China's only Grand Slam winner Li Na, it is difficult to make the Chinese tennis a topic, especially at this year's French Open grand slam.
As six players failed to make the main draw, China's present top player Peng Shuai was forced to quit in the first round with an aggravated back injury when the 24th seed was trailing Polona Hercog of Slovenia 6-0, 2-0 on Sunday.
Although there are three players yet to play their first round matches, they all need extra efforts in order to get an upper hand over their more experienced opponents.
Zhang Shuai will face 12th seed Karolina Pliskova from the Czech Republic and Wang Qiang meets 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone of Italy. Zheng Saisai sets for a clash against Czech Lucie Hradecka.
French Open used to be a lucky place for the Chinese when Li lifted the title here in 2011, which is the first one for the most populous country.
As Li, who took a second Grand Slam victory in Australia in 2014, retired last year and is expecting her first child, the country is in need for another tennis icon to carry on its influence in international tennis.
However, the search for Li's successor proved to be difficult.
Peng, who has been considered closest to the position, raised the hope when she fought into the last four of 2014 U.S. Open, her career best at any Grand Slam events.
But the 29-year-old was unable to rise to that level again and the injury on Sunday may turn out to end her season, or even her career.
Whereas for Zhang Shuai, Zheng Saisai and Wang Qiang, the first round in the Grand Slam is still the barrier to beat.
