Zheng needs hubby to hurry up Serena serves

LONDON (AFP) - Zheng Jie, the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, admitted she needs to learn how to combat Serena Williams' howitzer serving - and will be looking to her husband for help.

Wildcard Zheng, the world 133, won warm applause from Centre Court for her battling performance in her 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) Wimbledon semi-final loss to the eight-time Grand Slam title winner on Thursday. She even had a set point which would have taken the tie into a decider, but the girl from Sichuan was overwhelmed by a Serena serving barrage which saw 14 aces fired past her.

Zheng, 24, joked that she'll need husband, and hitting partner Zhang Yu, to start upping the power on the practice courts if she is to compete with the likes of Williams over the coming years.