Fighting for Dreams — The Story of Asian Champion Li Mengxiao

On January 24, 2026, Li Mengxiao claimed the girls' singles championship at the Asian Junior Tennis Tour ATF-U14-Grade A (West Asia).

The ATF (Asian Tennis Federation) tournament represents the pinnacle of junior tennis in Asia, with Grade A being the highest level of ATF competitions and U14 indicating players under 14 years old. Competitors come not only from various Asian countries and regions but also include participants from Europe and America. Li Mengxiao was the only player representing mainland China, marking her first time competing internationally in an Asian junior tennis event.

Without any points or ranking, 12-year-old Li Mengxiao had to start from the qualifiers as the lowest-ranked participant. This high-level tournament featured top U14 players seeded from each country. From the qualifiers, she faced seeded opponents but demonstrated maturity and resilience beyond her years. Against a strong young Indian player in the qualifiers, she remained calm and steady, controlling the match pace with precise shots to win comfortably 6-0, 6-1 and advance to the main draw. In the first round, facing Jordan’s top player (ranked 29th in Asia), she lost the first set but adjusted her mindset and tactics to come back and win 3-6, 6-0, 6-2. Her performance only improved as the competition progressed: she easily defeated an Uzbek player (ranked 50th in Asia) 6-0, 6-1 in the second round, then took on the tournament’s top seed from India (ranked 3rd in Asia) in the third round, showcasing solid defense combined with aggressive offense to win a tough match 6-4, 7-6(3).

In the semifinals against Turkmenistan’s top player (ranked 19th in Asia), she maintained her strong form and dominated from the baseline to win in straight sets 6-1, 6-4, advancing to the final. Facing Iran’s top player (ranked 10th in Asia), she was in excellent condition and overwhelmed her opponent with powerful attacks, sealing a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory to complete her championship journey. This not only confirmed her solid skills but also revealed her determination and courage to pursue her dream with full effort. The trophy stands as a testament to her personal ability and her relentless pursuit of excellence and dreams.

Over the seven-day competition, Li Mengxiao rose from obscurity to become the dark horse champion, demonstrating strong perseverance and unwavering spirit. Against top players from various countries, she remained calm and confident, giving her all on every shot and every step. She understood that each match was both a test of skill and a step toward her dream. Fearless of tough opponents, adaptable, and overcoming physical and mental challenges, all proved her capability as an outstanding tennis player. Her remarkable performance earned not only the applause of the audience but also the respect of her rivals.

This championship earned Li Mengxiao Asian U14 ranking points, placing her immediately at 19th in the rankings and making her the highest-ranked Chinese U14 player in Asia. Yet she knows there is always room to grow and is determined to continue training hard, aiming to break through Asia and reach the global stage, bringing glory to Chinese tennis. For her, being Asian champion is just the beginning. The road ahead is long and challenging, but she faces it fearlessly, dedicating herself to daily training with passion and firm belief, continuously improving her skills and tactics to achieve greater success internationally.