Returning from a successful Wimbledon tournament, the rest of the 2006 season will be action-packed for China's tennis stars Li Na, Peng Shuai, Yuan Meng and doubles pairs Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, Li Ting and Sun Tiantian. China Daily's sports editors take a look at their prospects.

Fed Cup World Group Playoff (Beijing, July 15 to 16)

A fully-fit China Team takes on Germany at home. The Germans are missing No 1 player Anna-Lena Groenefeld, ranked 16th in the world, who pulled out of the tournament due to injury. Young players including Christina Barrois, world No 129, Katrin Woerle, No 154, Tatiana Malek, No 288 and Jasmin Woehr, No 1071, will carry their hopes.

However, their prospects look slim against a China team riding a wave of confidence.

Prediction: China beats Germany easily to enter the world top eight for the first time.

US Open (New York, August 28 to September 10)

In 2006's last Grand Slam tournament, China is again set to boast a record entry with six Chinese women currently ranking among the world's 100. Li Na will have no problem being seeded if her form remains good. Zheng Jie, currently world No 34, also stands a good chance of being seeded if she plays well enough in North American tournaments leading up to the event. In the doubles Zheng and Yan Zi will try to prove their credentials once and for all by securing their third Grand Slam trophy of 2006. Peng Shuai's role is still uncertain and depends on her battle with injury.

Prediction: A good draw and some luck should see Li Na repeat her Wimbledon quarter-final finish. Zheng Jie will be disappointed with anything less than a third round appearance, while her and Yan Zi are favourites in the doubles.

China Open (Beijing, September 11 to 24)

The best effort by a local player was Li Na in 2004, who lost to Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semi-final after squandering several match points. Meanwhile in the doubles Zheng/Yan were runners-up last year. The players will be desperate to serve up a treat for home fans, but it won't be easy as organizers have announced blockbuster entries like Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Prediction: With the tournament so soon after the US Open, a lot depends on fatigue. If they can handle it Zheng/Yan should win, but Li will have to hope for a good draw to avoid a Top 5 player.

WTA Championships (Madrid, November 6 to 13)

The Wimbledon success means Zheng Jie and Yan Zi have already qualified for the year-ending tournament, which features the year's top eight singles and doubles players. The tournament is a new test for the pair, who have never played the exhausting round-robin format.

Prediction: If they can get out of the tricky group stage, the Wimbledon champions will be hard to stop.

Asian Games (December 4 to 24)

China always sends its best athletes to the quadrennial continental tournament, and tennis is no exception. Japan are usually strongest in Asian tennis, but while their players have declined, China's aces have reached a new level.

Prediction: A clean sweep.

(China Daily July 14, 2006)