Soderling and Wickmayer learn kung fu

　　The 2009 China Open hosted a special event at the west gate Wednesday evening. Robin Soderling, a finalist at this year’s French Open, and Yanina Wickmayer, a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Open last month, both received some kung fu lessons on stage.

　　A teacher and some of his students from the Shaolin Temple, the most famous in China, put on a display before Soderling and Wickmayer arrived. They showed off different skills in kung fu, with some of them even breaking small metal rods over their heads. One of the students had blood streaming down his head on his face after breaking two pieces of metal over his forehead.

　　When Soderling and Wickmayer came to the stage, they were both a little nervous about trying some of the things they had just watched.

　　Soderling said it looked difficult, but he was willing to give it a shot.

　　Wickmayer went first and she went through basic movements, nothing involving breaking boards or metal rods over her head. Still, she admitted just doing that much was a little more than she was capable of.

　　Soderling was next and as soon as he began trying to follow the instructor, he realized he wasn’t quite as flexible as he needed to be. He took a minute to stretch out, then tried some more, getting through the exercises with a certain lack of grace.

　　He and Wickmayer both thanked the crowd, the teacher and the students, saying that as difficult as it was, it was a fun experience. (By Matt Schiffman)