Date of birth: 3 April 1981

Championships:

World Championships 2001, Osaka: Women’s singles: Quarter finalist

Pro Tour:

Dutch Open 2001: Women’s singles: Quarter finalist, Women’s doubles: Champion
US Open 2001: Women’s singles: Champion, Women’s doubles: Champion
China Open 2001: Women’s doubles: Champion
Croatian Open 2001: Women’s singles: Semi-finalist, Women’s doubles: Champion

Swedish Open 2000: Women’s singles: Semi-finalist, Women’s doubles: Champion

Yugoslavian Open 97: Women’s singles: Champion

US Open, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 7 July 2001. Only 20 years old but playing the US Open as an experienced Champion. NIU Jianfeng (CHN) was simply too good for Aya UMEMURA (JPN) in the final in women’s singles.

The young Chinese took advantage of her compatriot ZHANG Yining’s stumbling in the early rounds. ZHANG was top seeded but lost to Olga NEMES (GER). Now NIU took the title instead.

UMEMURA who sensationally took the Brazilian title last week showed at the US Open that Brazil was not a one time wonder. In the final though she didn’t have a chance.

NIU Jianfeng took the first two games easily, and instead of relaxing she just humiliated UMEMURA in the 3^rd winning 21-2 (two) – probably never seen in a Pro Tour final before.

UMEMURA though can look back on two good weeks in the Americas. She went to Sao Paolo as nr. 90 on the World Ranking. She came to Fort Lauderdale as nr. 54 and going home to Japan she will take one more big step forward on the World Ranking.