WIMBLEDON - LAST year's semifinalist Zheng Jie of China has been eliminated in the second round at Wimbledon, losing 6-3, 7-5 to Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

The 16th-seeded Zheng broke in the first game of the match, but Hantuchova broke back twice and took the first set with a big crosscourt forehand.

Zheng was a wild card in 2008 when she became the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament, beating top-seeded Ana Ivanovic on the way.

She pushed Hantuchova hard in the second set as the pair traded breaks, and saved a match point before the Slovak wrapped it up with a deft forehand volley. -- AP