SZ teen Sun Xinran shines in China Open debut

Sun Xinran (R), a Shenzhen native, shakes hands with Coco Gauff of the U.S. after their China Open women’s singles third-round match at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on Monday. Xinhua

China's 16-year-old Sun Xinran, a Shenzhen native, stepped into the spotlight at the China Open, showing maturity beyond her years in her WTA 1000 debut.

The girls’ singles champion at this year’s US Open and runner-up at both the French Open and Wimbledon, Sun advanced through the first two rounds in Beijing before her campaign ended with a 7-5, 6-1 loss to world No. 4 Coco Gauff of the U.S. on Monday.

Sun had previously beaten Germany’s Eva Lys and 27th seed Cristina Bucsa of Spain, going further than many expected in her first China Open appearance.

“There were chances I could take, but there was some collapse in the second set,” the teenager reflected after the match against Gauff. “Her rhythm is much faster than other players. She’s able to mix it up and serves more powerfully, much better than me. There are so many things I can learn from her.”

Sun admitted she had been nervous but also proud to compete on Diamond Court during the National Day holiday.

“This is China, my home country. The crowd supported me a lot. I can hear them. They gave me energy,” the wildcard player said.

Competing in a WTA 1000 main draw also required Sun to adjust to a level of intensity beyond the junior circuit, but her aggressive returning and composure off the court offered signs that she was becoming more comfortable at senior level.

“I just started playing professional matches. I don’t want to put so much pressure on myself. I want to focus on my tennis, move forward step by step, and we will see what is going to happen,” she said.

Describing herself as an “all-round player,” Sun said years of training and competition had given her confidence in her preparation.

This year marks a breakthrough for Sun, who reached the girls’ singles final at three Grand Slam tournaments.

“It gave me so much experience to play on the big court and also play with very good opponents. That really helps me to improve myself,” said Sun.

Sun’s mother, a tennis enthusiast, introduced her to the sport when she was 6. In 2023, Sun enrolled at Shenzhen Hongshan Middle School, where she trained professionally while continuing her studies. Sun has lived in Serbia since 2020, training at Tennis Park Belgrade under coaches Goran Zivotic and Goran Krivokuca.

Hou Wendi, Sun’s tennis coach at the middle school, recalled her as a hardworking, resilient athlete who practiced her forehand and backhand under the scorching sun.

“An athlete’s most important quality is a constant hunger to win. Sun’s progress is inseparable from that quality — it’s etched into her very bones,” Hou said. (Xinhua)