Zheng Qinwen’s defeat to Gauff seven years ago has finally been avenged, as 15-year-old Chinese girl Sun Xinran makes history by winning the Orange Bowl.

Another historic moment for Chinese tennis was created by 15-year-old Sun Xinran at the Orange Bowl in the US!

In 2018, after Zheng Qinwen advanced to the U18 final at the Orange Bowl, facing the younger Gauff, some thought she would establish a new milestone for Chinese tennis. Sadly, 16-year-old Zheng was defeated in three sets by 14-year-old Gauff in the final.

Therefore, when Sun Xinran once again reached the U18 final at the Orange Bowl, the opportunity to create a new chapter for Chinese tennis reignited widespread excitement.

Compared to seven years ago when Zheng Qinwen reached the final and opinions were divided, this time the support for Sun Xinran to win the championship is overwhelmingly one-sided.

What is the reason? Of course, it’s the dominant performance of the Chinese girl on the court, having not lost a single set in the first five rounds—truly impressive!

In the first round against Monteya, she cruised through with a 6-1, 6-2 victory, launching her debut Orange Bowl campaign strongly; in the second round against Sones, though the second set went to a tiebreak, she still advanced with 6-2, 7-6; in the third round, she swept the favorite, Zhang Jiemi, daughter of Michael Chang, 6-3, 6-1; and in the quarterfinals, she defeated 14th seed Marinkovic 6-2, 7-6.

Especially in the semifinal against top seed Barros, she dominated with a 6-2, 6-3 win leaving her opponent powerless. Fans and netizens remarked that Sun Xinran’s fierce determination and resilience not only revealed her great potential but also gave hope for a championship—this young girl looks very formidable.

Some even emphasized that since she toppled the top seed Barros, her chances of winning against Russian girl Lyutova in the final are very high, strongly backing the Chinese girl to achieve revenge.

Sun Xinran and Lyutova are no strangers; they have met twice before, with the Russian player winning both times. Hence, this match was seen as a classic revenge battle.

In their third encounter, judging by the start of the first set, the Russian girl, who clearly had the psychological edge, seemed more confident. When Sun Xinran was broken early, the tension in the live broadcast soared, with some wondering if she, having defeated so many top players, would suffer a third straight loss and become a stepping stone for someone else’s title.

What deserves praise is that the Chinese girl remained calm despite trailing, showing maturity beyond her 15 years. She patiently battled Lyutova and eventually found the chance to equalize, successfully taking the first set 6-4.

Securing the first set greatly boosted Sun Xinran’s confidence.

Facing the increasingly strong Chinese player, Lyutova, unable to shake off the shock of losing the first set, unexpectedly collapsed, turning the second set into a showcase for Sun Xinran.

When the Chinese girl closed out the second set 6-1 to claim the title, fans and netizens erupted in cheers. Many said that what Zheng Qinwen never achieved at the Orange Bowl, 15-year-old Sun Xinran has now accomplished, becoming the first Chinese player to win the U18 Orange Bowl and creating a new milestone for Chinese tennis—truly thrilling.

Following Sun Xinran’s victory, another piece of good news quickly arrived.

Thanks to earning 500 points from winning the U18 Orange Bowl, Sun Xinran’s junior singles ranking rose to 15th, securing a seeded spot in next year’s Australian Open juniors. Some have already challenged the Chinese girl from afar: will she shine at Melbourne Park next year and bring double joy?

Moreover, Sun Xinran’s Orange Bowl championship has widely raised expectations for her future.

This tournament has long been known as a cradle for future tennis stars. Many past champions went on to excel in the professional tour, including legends like Federer, Agassi, Graf, and Henin, and more recently, the current top-ranked and two-time Grand Slam winner Gauff.

Now Sun Xinran joins the ranks of these stars. Will she rise and shine brilliantly on the professional circuit in the future? We eagerly await to see!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit Starry Sky)