Let the future unfold from the heart! On July 13th, Beijing time, the 2024 ASICS Junior Tennis Tour·Zhengzhou Station came to a successful close at the tennis courts of Zhengzhou University of Technology’s Yingcai Campus. After two days of thrilling competition, champions were crowned in the U10, U12, and U14 categories. Apart from earning valuable junior ranking points, impressive championship and runner-up trophies, and generous ASICS product gift packages, the winners and runners-up in the U10 and U12 groups, as well as the champion of the U14 group, secured direct berths to the Grand Finals.
In its third year in 2024, the ASICS Junior Tennis Tour has been elevated this year to a “China Junior Tennis Ranking Tournament” Category B event (CTJ-B600). The Zhengzhou leg attracted hundreds of young tennis talents from across the country in the U10, U12, and U14 categories, making the tournament more intense and spectacular than ever.
In the U14 boys’ singles final, after a grueling day of play that left both players visibly fatigued, No. 2 seed Junlin Su overcame No. 3 seed Yun Li 6-4 to claim the title. A native of Zhengzhou and the defending champion in the U14 boys’ singles, Su successfully defended his title on home turf, expressing his excitement. “I’ve always participated in the ASICS Junior Tennis Tour, winning here in Zhengzhou last year. Today, I was down 0-40 in the decisive service game of the final but managed to turn it around, which was very exciting and joyful,” said Su. “The organizational work for the ASICS events is impeccable, from uniforms to medical support. I’ll definitely continue participating.”
U14 Boys’ Singles Champion Junlin Su
U14 Boys’ Singles Runner-up Yun Li
In the U14 girls’ singles competition, top seed Meimei Hu dominated with a 6-3 victory over Yiran Zhao. Throughout her journey to the final, Hu won all five matches with scores of 6-0 or 6-1. Facing Zhao, who displayed exceptional defense, Hu maintained her aggressive style, gradually breaking down her opponent’s defenses to clinch the title.
U14 Girls’ Singles Champion Meimei Hu
U14 Girls’ Singles Runner-up Yiran Zhao
In the U10 category, the boys’ singles final saw No. 2 seed Ruo Yi Cui and top seed Mengdi Du evenly matched. Tied at 3-3, the match went into a tie-breaker, where Cui narrowly triumphed 8-6 in the tie-breaker, securing a thrilling victory. In the girls’ singles, top seed Jiachen Li dominated from the group stage to the knockout rounds, winning five matches with scores of 4-0, losing only three games in total. In the final, she defeated No. 2 seed Zhaotong Ye 4-2 to claim the title in a powerful fashion.
U10 Boys’ Singles Champion Ruo Yi Cui
U10 Boys’ Singles Runner-up Mengdi Du
U10 Girls’ Singles Champion Jiachen Li
U10 Girls’ Singles Runner-up Zhaotong Ye
The dedication and excellence shown by the players on the court was matched by the high-quality services provided by the ASICS Junior Tennis Tour off the court, which received praise from participants and parents alike. The beautifully designed tournament packs handed out at registration, the display of new tennis gear at the ASICS booth, the DIY tennis accessories made by players, and the tournament boards around the venue created a vibrant atmosphere. In addition, the event showcased its strength in areas such as officiating, medical support, photography, videography, and logistical support, demonstrating the extensive preparations made by ASICS to ensure the smooth running of the tournament.
The newly introduced “Dream Voices” collection initiative was warmly welcomed by the young tennis players. The tennis players wrote their dreams on tennis balls, which ASICS collected to be presented in a special way during the Grand Finals, ensuring that every player’s dream was seen. Additionally, ASICS will select and assist some players in realizing their dreams.
The ASICS Junior Tennis Tour, an original youth tennis IP event launched by the brand in 2022, aims to provide Chinese junior tennis players with a high-quality competitive platform, offering them more opportunities to interact and exchange skills with peers of the same age, fostering talent for Chinese tennis. With the upgrade in competition level, the event has attracted outstanding junior tennis players from across the country, promoting cross-regional sports culture exchanges, and further contributing to the development of youth sports and public health. Upcoming, the 2024 ASICS Junior Tennis Tour will hold two more divisional tournaments and the national finals in Shanghai, with the excitement continuing. Let’s look forward to it together!