SHENZHEN-BORN Sun Xinran, the world’s top-ranked junior player, won the 2026 US Open girls singles title in New York on Saturday, defeating Russia’s Anna Pushkareva 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 in 1 hour, 47 minutes for the first Grand Slam singles title of her career.

The Chinese Tennis Association sent a congratulatory letter praising the 16-year-old’s breakthrough victory and commending her family, coaching team and training organization for their support.

“Your victory in the 2026 US Open junior girls singles final brings us immense joy and pride,” the association said in the letter. It added that the championship was the result of years of disciplined training, dedication and perseverance.

The US Open junior event features many of the world’s leading under-18 players and tests their physical endurance and mental resilience on New York’s hard courts.

The title adds to Sun’s reputation as one of the most promising young players in Chinese tennis as she approaches the transition from the junior circuit to the professional level.

Sun was born in Shenzhen in 2010. Her mother is a tennis enthusiast, and Sun often accompanied her family to tennis courts as a child, gradually developing an interest in the sport. She began formal training at age 6 and, by age 11, had set her sights on a professional tennis career. In 2023, she entered Shenzhen Hongshan Middle School, a sports-focused school with a robust training system.        (SD News)