Sun Xinran returns a shot during a junior tennis tournament in an undated file photo. Bao'an Daily

Shenzhen tennis player Sun Xinran has become the youngest Chinese player to win a match at a WTA-level event at just 15 years and 10 months, marking a breakthrough moment for both Chinese tennis and Longhua District’s youth sports development program.

Sun secured her first victory at a WTA 125 tournament on May 5 in Istanbul, Türkiye, defeating North Macedonia’s Lina Gjorcheska, ranked No. 191 in the world, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the opening round of the clay-court event.

The win earned Sun 15 WTA ranking points and lifted her live world ranking from No. 746 to No. 678, pushing her into the world’s top 700 for the first time.

Born in 2010, Sun began playing tennis at the age of 6 and became a Longhua-affiliated athlete in 2023 after being recruited by Shenzhen Hongshan Middle School, where she began systematic training.

Her rapid rise has made her one of China’s most promising young tennis players. 

 Sun Xinran (C) poses with an official and another player after winning the ITF W15 title in Egypt in October 2025, becoming the youngest Chinese player to capture a professional tennis title at the age of 15 years and 95 days.

In 2025, Sun captured the ITF W15 title in Egypt, becoming the youngest Chinese player to win a professional tennis title at the age of 15 years and 95 days. Later that year, she won the prestigious Orange Bowl U18 girls’ singles title in the United States, becoming the first Chinese female player to claim the honor.

She currently ranks No. 6 in the ITF junior world rankings and has won eight ITF women’s singles titles so far in her career.

Sun said her passion for tennis continues to drive her forward.

“As long as I love the sport, I’ll have the motivation to keep going,” she said after the match.

According to Li Hui, an official with the Longhua District Amateur Sports School, Sun showed unusual discipline and maturity from an early age.

“She truly loves tennis and is willing to put in extraordinary effort,” Li said. “Even under pressure, she stays calm and focused during matches.”

Sun Xinran poses with the flag of Shenzhen Hongshan Middle School after helping China win the girls’ team title at the ISF U15 Gymnasiade in Serbia in April 2025.

Longhua District has expanded youth sports development in recent years through cooperation between schools and sports institutions, building training programs across nearly 30 disciplines including tennis, football and basketball. The district regularly selects young athletes to represent Longhua in municipal and provincial competitions.

Sun’s breakthrough on the international stage is emerging as one of the strongest examples yet of the district’s growing investment in youth athletic development.