Li Na and Zheng Jie will miss the Fed Cup to give younger players a chance to rack up Olympic ranking points, officials said yesterday.

World No 17 Li and No 32 Zheng are China's top players, having helped catapult the country from tennis obscurity to WTA primetime.

The two women will skip China's first-ever World Group I tie against European powerhouse Italy in April. Peng Shuai, Sun Tiantian, Yan Zi and Sun Shengnan are expected to fill in and, hopefully, lead the national team to an historic high.

According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the players need to compete in at least two Fed Cup ties to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"We need a full lineup at the Olympic Games, so we are letting the younger players compete in Italy, even though its bound to weaken our showing to some degree," said Gao Shenyang, vice-director of China's Tennis Administrative Center.

China has enjoyed Fed Cup success since Sun Tiantian and Li Ting seized doubles gold in Athens three years ago.

Led by Li and Zheng, the squad beat Slovenia 4-1 in 2005 to enter the World Group II and then made it to the elite Group I by ousting Germany 4-1 last year.

But without its marquee stars, hopes of China making it to the semis are slim.

"We have to do this and sacrifice the important Fed Cup to guarantee we're at full-strength for the Games at home," Gao explained.

With seven players in the top 100, including Francesca Schiavone (21) and Tathiana Garbin (27), Italy is unlikely to show any mercy in the much-anticipated April clash.

Meanwhile, in a bid to make Li, 24, more of an Olympic threat, the center is looking for a world-class coach to join her newly hired stamina coach, said Gao.

Li performed remarkably well during the Pacific Life and Sony Ericsson Open, enjoying a successful 2007 capped by a fourth round finish at the Australian Open in January after teaming up with her husband, coach Jiang Shan.

"We have been looking for a top-notch coach for Li, who, clearly, is the most talented female player in China," he said.

"She is playing great tennis this season but I believe she can move up another level in the days leading up to the Olympic Games. She needs to show more patience on her baseline rallies."

"I think Jiang is doing OK and he will be with Li until we find the right coach."

Source: China Daily