DUBBED “China’s Sharapova,” Wang Xinyu was born and grew up in Shenzhen. Living near a tennis court, her childhood memories were filled with tennis. Wang’s father, a former coach of the national tennis team, started to coach her when she was 6.

She turned professional in 2018 and came into the spotlight that year after making it into the Australian Open after winning the Asia-Pacific Wildcard playoff. She is the youngest Chinese player to make a Grand Slam main draw. The same year, Wang won her first junior Grand Slam title in a close match against Violet Apisah of Papua New Guinea.

The young ace won the women’s doubles title twice during the WTA tours in 2019 and 2021.

Before being a professional tennis player, Wang studied in Meilin High School in Futian District, which tailored curricular to cultivate her tennis specialty. Wang entered Meilin High School with her entrance exam results of racing and solid sphere holding a safe lead among all sports candidates.

According to Fan Huaping, racing coach of the school, when he first met Wang in 2016, he thought Wang was a quiet and shy girl.

“Wang was constant to her purpose. She was confident, brave and daring to take challenges with a cool mind,” Fan said.

Wang is also famous as Meilin High School’s ambassador to the students. The school appointed Wang as an ambassador in 2018, aiming to motivate students to be positive and courageous and encourage them to set their life goals.

Chen Xinrui, a sprinter who also studied at Meilin High School, is a regular participant of district and city-level competitions. She said that Chinese athletes’ outstanding performances and alumnus Wang’s success have inspired her a lot.

“The success of athletes such as Su Bingtian and Wang proves that Chinese people can make it!” Chen said. She said she has gained the confidence in competing in bigger contests in the future and is working hard to achieve that goal. (Chen Siqi)