China's Zheng Jie returns the ball to Germany's Kathrin Woerle in the first day competition of the Fed Cup. Zheng Jie won 2-0. China's Li Na and Zheng Jie helped China take a 2-0 lead over Germany in the Fed Cup tennis play-off for World Group in Beijing, capital of China, July 15, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

 Li Na and Zheng Jie helped China take a 2-0 lead over Germany in the Fed Cup tennis play-off for World Group here on Saturday.

It is the third time China meeting Germany in the Fed Cup play-off, and Germany won the last two encounters in 1982 and 1984.

Li Na, ranked 22nd in the world, eased over Kristina Barrois 6-3, 6-4 in 74 minutes. Although Barrois tried hard to control the game with frequent charges to the net, she could not disrupt Li's rhythm. Li ended up the game with a backhand volley.

Barrois, ranked 129th in the world, admitted Li was a better player today.

"I think I played not bad but Li played very well," said Barrois.

"I think the referee is not on my part. Li played at home, and it was not easy for me. But I did my best."

Li Na, who benefited from a questionable call in the second set, told the reporters: "I played at home this time and after the Wimbledom Championships my confidence increased a lot. Every match I tried my best to win."

Li added that she thought the Fed Cup play-off was more important than the WTA tour, because this time she was "playing for her nation, not for herself".

Zheng Jie, ranked 34th in the world singles, beat Kathrin Woerle 6-4, 7-5.

Woerle had once led 4-2 in the first set but still lost to Zheng by conceding four games in a row.

In the second set, Woerle narrowed the scores from 5-2 to 5-5. But Zheng saved her serve and sealed victory by breaking her opponent's.

Zheng Jie, this year's Wimbledon Open and Australia Open doubles champion paired with Yan Zi, said: "I thought I played well. This is the first time that my parents came to see my game, which gave me a lot of confidence."

Woerle, ranked 154th in the world, conceded she had a confidence problem.

"I started well and once led 4-2," she said. "But I was not confident enough because she ranked 34th in the world and I was ranked 154th.

"I didn't play very aggressive and she was a very good player. She served well and she took her chance."

Chinese captain Jiang Hongwei predicted a 60 percent chance in favor of China.

"Our chance of winning the match would be 60 percent," he said.

Editor: Donald