by sportswriters Li Bowen, Ma Xiangfei and Gao Meng

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- It was more than a mere coincidence. It narrated a decade-long tale of China's new boom in the global tennis landscape.

With an impressive display of skill and determination, China's top-ranked player Zheng Qinwen defeated Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine 6-4, 6-4 at the Australian Open on Thursday, reaching her first Grand Slam final.

Exactly on the same day in 2014, Li Na, widely hailed as an icon of Chinese tennis, claimed her second Grand Slam title in the Australian Open final.

Standing on the center court, Zheng has heralded the comeback of Chinese tennis glory.

FOLLOW IN IDOL'S FOOTSTEPS

On January 25, 2014, Li Na made history at the Rod Laver Arena, becoming the first Asian player to win the Australian Open singles title. Following her retirement with two Grand Slam titles, China has been pondering over the question of "Who is the next Li Na?"

Then at 11, Zheng was training in Wuhan, Hubei Province. She was among the children who celebrated Li's victory in front of the TV on that very day.

"Li Na is my idol. I won't forget the game where she ascended to the top of the Australian Open. She sowed a seed of dream in my heart," Zheng recalled.

Now a rising star on the Grand Slam stage, Zheng received advice from her idol, who emphasized the importance of concentration.

"She told me not to overthink. At the start, I put a lot of pressure on myself. But now, I just focus on my game, without dwelling too much on other things."

In just her third WTA tour season, Zheng reached three finals in the last 12 months, claiming her first WTA titles at the WTA 250 Palermo Ladies Open and the WTA 500 Zhengzhou Open. She also finished as runner-up at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai. The 21-year-old has become the second player from the Chinese mainland to rank among the top 10, emulating Li Na.

Significantly, Zheng is not alone in global tennis, as Chinese tennis has been strengthened by the emergence of several male players.

ACCUMULATION FOR BREAKTHROUGH

Chinese tennis has had its ups and downs. Apart from Li, players like Zheng Jie, Yan Zi, and Zhang Shuai have achieved success in Grand Slam.

Now, the emergence of a group of Chinese players is more visible. In 2023, a record-high 10 players from the Chinese mainland competed in the Australian Open's singles main draw. At the US Open, seven players made it to the main draw and all advanced into the second round.

The all-Chinese match between Zheng and Wang Yafan at this year's Australian Open marked a historic first on the tournament's center court in the Open Era. A batch of Chinese tennis players have made breakthroughs, positioning the country as a prominent force in international tennis.

With Zheng breaking into elite women's tennis, Wang Xinyu reached the US Open round of 16 at 22. Wang Xiyu, also 22, won her first WTA Tour title, and 21-year-old Bai Zhuoxuan elevated her world ranking from outside the top 300 to 87. Currently, a total of seven Chinese women's players are in the world's top 100.

Chinese men's tennis has made remarkable progress in recent seasons despite its traditionally lagging status. In 2014, only two male players from the Chinese mainland were ranked within the top 500. Now, that number has increased to seven. In July last year, Zhang Zhizhen reached a career-high world No. 52, the highest ever for a Chinese mainland male player. Wu Yibing became the first Chinese mainland player to win an ATP Tour trophy at the Dallas Open in February last year and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 54 in May.

Eighteen-year-old Shang Juncheng exceeded expectations at this year's Australian Open by reaching the third round. Zhang made another piece of Chinese tennis history by reaching the men's doubles semifinals with Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic.

"Chinese tennis is in blossom as the new generation of players has showcased confidence and vitality on the international stage," commented Bai Xilin, vice president and secretary general of the Chinese Tennis Association.

PROMISING FUTURE

Professional tennis in China has flourished over the last decade, with young players competing both domestically and internationally, resulting in a steady growth of the talent pool.

This success can be attributed to China's effective tennis development path, as the Chinese Tennis Association actively aligns professional tennis with Olympic goals, shifting the training model for outstanding talents from a single development model in provincial and municipal sports teams to diversified professional training.

The growth of tennis enthusiasts and quality events has strengthened China's tennis talent pool. Zheng Jie, a two-time Grand Slam doubles titleholder, has committed to youth tennis development since retiring. She noted a substantial increase in participation in the U10 and U12 categories of the "Zheng Jie Cup," reflecting tennis's rising popularity among youngsters.

In professional tennis, the China swing, featuring events like the China Open, Wuhan Open, and Shanghai Masters, continues to elevate public attention. With deepening tennis culture and increasing family investments in sports, more Chinese players are encouraged to train abroad at high levels.

Hubei, the hometown of Li and Zheng, boasts around 30 tennis schools, nearly a hundred tennis clubs, a tennis population exceeding 300,000, and over 3,300 tennis courts. Like her idol Li, Zheng has become a role model for the new generation.

Building on the achievements of the past decade, Chinese tennis is poised to reach new heights and a promising future. Enditem

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