All eyes on junior French Open event
Print Edition
WITH China’s best-known tennis star Li Na no longer in the game, tennis officials will be hoping that the 2015 French Open Junior Wild Cards Competition in Shanghai will throw up some names.
Li Na, who retired last year, brought home the French Open trophy in 2011 — her first grand slam title — that gave a massive impetus to the sport in China. She was also the first and only grand slam singles champion from Asia.
Prior to her big breakthrough, the Chinese Tennis Federation had reached a deal with the Federation Francaise de Tennis in 2010 to train budding young Chinese talents as well as Chinese coaches. Moreover, they would help build more clay courts in China, besides offering technical and material support.
Lucas Dubourg, the international development project manager of Federation Francaise de Tennis, said he clearly remembered China’s top-ranked male player Zhang Ze telling him there were very few clay courts in China after struggling to find his pace on clay during the French Open qualifier in 2012.
“Chinese players are not very familiar with clay courts,” said Dubourg. “To know and understand the red clay courts takes time, and that’s why we brought the tournament to Shanghai for the second straight year. Super stars can always help promote the sport, and what Li Na has done is significant.”
Dubourg admitted that Li Na’s retirement may temporarily halt the development of the game in China but there was no looking back. “Tennis fans have already seen the attraction of the sport, that’s what Li Na’s generation has left for us,” Dubourg said.
Compared to hard courts, there are few clay courts in China because of higher construction and maintenance costs.
Also known as “soft court,” clay court slows down the ball and produces a high bounce and therefore produces a more see-saw battle, which is considered suitable for learners.
The 2015 French Open Junior Wild Card Competition is being held at Shanghai Tencher Tennis Academy in Pudong New Area till March 22. There are 16 slots, respectively, for boys and girls aged between 13 and 18.
Wildcard qualifications will also be held in New Delhi, India, and San Paulo, Brazil. The singles champions from the three cities will face-off in Paris championship in May with the eventual winners given wildcards to the 2015 Roland-Garros Junior Tournament.
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