Passion ignited

Following Zheng's Olympic triumph, tennis fever has swept across China, and Wuhan and Hubei in particular, sparking a surge in interest. Tennis training centers have been overwhelmed with inquiries, equipment sales have skyrocketed, and the excitement surrounding the Wuhan Open reached new heights.

As the final WTA 1000 event of the season, the recently concluded Wuhan Open broke records for both single-day and total ticket sales. Revenue surpassed 25 million yuan ($3.52 million), a 4.88-fold increase compared with 2019, and more than 180,000 spectators attended — a rise of over 80 percent from five years ago.

The tournament also ignited local youths' interest through player visits to schools and ball boy and ball girl recruitment.

Mengxiao, who has played tennis for more than five years, was selected as a ball girl. Having attended the Australian Open and China Open as a spectator, she had always admired how sharp and poised the ball kids looked on court.

So when her hometown tournament began recruiting, she wasted no time asking her parents to sign her up.

After two rounds of a rigorous selection process and eight days of focused training, Mengxiao secured a spot among the 86 official ball kids. The experience of living away from her parents for over 10 days made a lasting impression.

Beyond observing how top players adjust their strategies mid-match, Mengxiao deepened her understanding of tennis rules and made many new friends who share her passion for the sport. "Some of the ball kids are people I've competed against in past tournaments. On the court, we're rivals, but off the court, we're friends," she said.

Mengxiao and Zheng also share another connection: they both train under the same coach. Mengxiao has been training with Yu Liqiao for more than four years. Yu, the women's singles champion at the 5th National Games in 1983, has been coaching in Hubei since her retirement, with both multiple Grand Slam winner Li Na and Zheng among her former charges.

Mengxiao trains four times a week, with each session lasting three hours. She understands the strictness of Yu's approach and strives to meet the coach's high expectations.

"I enjoy the feeling of chasing down every ball on the court and the thrill of winning," Mengxiao said. "If I lose a match I should have won, I end up crying. But if I can't beat someone, it just shows I need to work harder and keep improving."

At just 11 years of age, Mengxiao has already adopted a professional approach to her tennis career, traveling across the country to compete in tournaments and earn youth ranking points.