Finals countdown: Li Na a familiar face at 'great' Chengdu tournament
In different circumstances, the sixth edition of the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals would have taken place last week at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre in Chengdu, China. The event, which was this year cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has become synonymous with superb on-court action as the best junior players from the previous 12 months do battle for silverware. The ITF Junior Finals is more than just another tournament, however, as the players who qualify are treated to a host of cultural experiences, including the visit to the famous Chengdu panda sanctuary, and receive travel grants totalling up to $15,000 depending on their finishing position. The competition is very much a gateway to the professional arena and, despite only being five years old, has provided some tremendous memories. A familiar face at the ITF Junior Finals over the years has been two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na.
While there has been some fantastic on-court action at the ITF Junior Finals – and plenty of that has been relived during the past seven days – something which last week’s countdown has shown is that the event encapsulates more than just tennis.
Far removed from many other competitions, the players in Chengdu receive the red-carpet treatment and are exposed to aspects of the professional world which may become the norm should they successfully transition from juniors.
That increased professionalism comes in many forms: the official draw ceremony, at which players tend to wear traditional Chinese clothing, interviews, autograph sessions, official dinners, mini-coaching sessions, visits to local schools and other promotional activities.
There are also cultural experiences such as the much-cherished visits to the Chengdu panda sanctuary and fun group-activities such as dumpling making and calligraphy classes.
Dr. Ann Quinn, the former National Director of Coach Education for Tennis Australia, also delivers an invaluable session on peak performance and striving for excellence, with players given the opportunity to tap into her extensive knowledge and experience.
The annual presence of the iconic and much-revered Li Na also generates immense excitement among players and fans alike, with the pioneer of Chinese tennis and two-time Grand Slam winner requiring no introductions.
Li, who plays an active role in tennis development within China, is a global ambassador for the ITF Junior Finals, which sees her promote and attend the event where she undertakes coaching clinics and exhibition matches.
“It is a great tournament and I am always so happy to be at the ITF Junior Finals,” Li told itftennis.com.
“It is good not only for the Chinese juniors who play there but for the whole world. It is like the ATP and WTA Finals, where only the top eight players can play and have one more chance to fight each other.
“The event is not only important for the athletes but for the fans also. So many come to the court and support the players. They are excited to see junior players from China and all over the world.”
Having progressed through her nation’s elite sport system, the path Li took is well-documented as she defied odds and crushed stereotypes during a memorable career, blazing a trail for those who followed.
She retired as China’s first Grand Slam singles champion, having triumphed at Roland Garros in 2011 and the Australian Open three years later – the latter contributing to a career-high world ranking of No. 2 in February 2014.
Having experienced all she has, Li, whose autobiography Li Na: My Life has been turned into a biographical movie, is fundamentally aware of the hurdles an aspiring player must navigate in order to turn dreams into reality.
“That transition from junior to professional is one of the toughest things in a career,” she added.
“In juniors, you often come to the court and just play, but when you transfer to pro you need to control yourself and it’s not just about being on court, but off court also – you need to be smart. But my advice to all juniors is to have fun – life is so short, enjoy it.”
Her presence at the ITF Junior Finals is very much recognised and appreciated by those competing there. Russia’s Anna Blinkova, the 2016 girl’s champion, was overjoyed to receive her winners’ trophy from Li, revealing in her post-match press conference: “Honestly, my favourite player has always been Li Na. I loved her style of play.”
At the 2018 instalment of the competition, meanwhile, current world No. 89 Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada, who has since won a Junior Grand Slam after conquering Roland Garros, was afforded the opportunity to play an exhibition match with Li.
“It was an honour for me to play with Li Na,” she said. “When I was younger, she was my idol. I would watch her matches and I was very impressed by her game. It was fun to play with her and I played better [in that tournament after doing so] so it might have helped.”
There have been other highly-regarded former players who have witnessed the ITF Junior Finals first-hand and revelled in the quality of the event, both in terms of the tennis on show and its developmental role.
Twelve-time Grand Slam doubles champion and ITF Athlete Board member Mark Woodforde was in Chengdu in 2018. He told itftennis.com: “This really is a focus for players – the best of the best. For eight players who have competed extremely well over the previous 12 months, it gives them a real chance to puff out their chest and say, ‘I’m the best junior this season’.”