Li Na, Zheng Jie in 2010 Autralian Open Quarters

For the first time ever in women's tennis history, two Chinese women are in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Zheng Jie and Li Na, arguably the two most successful players from the world's most populous nation advanced to the quarterfinals stage of the 2010 Australian Open by beating higher ranked opponents in straight sets. It is just fitting that this milestone happened in the what is being touted as the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific. What's more noteworthy is their ability to advance further. They will both be facing opponents who they have winning histories against.

Zheng Jie advanced to the last eight by beating three seeds - including recent Hobart winner, #31 Alona Bondarenko. Li Na advanced by downing world #4 and US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki. Zheng will be going against Maria Kirilenko, the woman responsible for eliminating highly fancied Russian opponents #2 Dinara Safina and #14 Maria Sharapova. Zheng leads Kirilenko 4-1 in their career head-to-head meetings.

Li Na will be playing #6 seed and 7-time major winner Venus Williams for a spot in the semifinals. Though Williams is the more accomplished player, it was Li who won their only match so far at the quarterfinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Williams will arguably be the favorite to win their match but Li will be entering their match with a high dose of confidence having dispatched of Wozniacki in a relatively easy manner.

While it may be a long shot, the tennis world is just two stages away from witnessing the first ever Chinese Grand Slam final. I highly doubt that it will happen in this tournament, or that it may happen this year, but judging from China's gene pool, it is very possible that such an event may happen later this decade.