Letters | Chinese players’ US Open performance highlights rigours of professional tennis

Readers discuss what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and Hong Kong Paralympians’ accomplishments

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China’s Qinwen Zheng plays a backhand return against Croatia’s Donna Vekic during their women’s singles round of 16 tennis match at the US Open tennis tournament in New York on September 1. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:30am, 6 Sep 2024

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At the US Open, we witness the world’s best competing against each other for the top prize. From a draw of 128 players each in the men’s and women’s singles, only one will claim the championship in each category after two weeks of gruelling matches.

This year, Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen advanced to the quarter-finals and Wang Yafan made it to the round of 16. In the men’s draw, Shang Juncheng pushed Casper Rudd (eighth seed) to the fifth set but ultimately lost in the third round.

Li Na was a pioneer in Chinese women’s tennis and now we are seeing more Chinese players rise in the sport internationally. With the right selection, environment, coaching and support team, more talent will begin to compete for the top rankings.

I, as a healthcare provider to professional tennis players, have a unique vantage point. As spectators watching the sport, we are mesmerised by the skill, glamour and glory. We see the exterior, the fame which can often make the athletes seem larger than life. But beneath that is intensity, seriousness and the pressure players are under.

Professional players travel most months out of the year, are often jet-lagged and always adjusting to different time zones, cultures, climates and injuries. Amid these realities, they have to practise constantly because tennis is their job.

For anyone, whether professional or amateur, there are days one feels like practising and days one doesn’t. But professionals have to push themselves all the time because of the strenuous competition schedule.