17-year-old tennis rising star Zhang Rui'en: The final season of her junior journey, gearing up to reach greater heights

Under the scorching summer sun in Melbourne, Chinese tennis prodigy Zhang Rui'en achieved a breakthrough at the Australian Open junior girls' singles by reaching the third round for the first time. She defeated Jelencjeva 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round, then overcame Lin Yuchen 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 in the second, enduring two tough three-set matches and the challenge of the heat, yet nothing could stop this 17-year-old talent’s progress. Approaching her 18th birthday and her final year in junior competition, this Australian Open journey represents not only a milestone achievement but also a crucial step toward the adult circuit.

“The first two rounds of a Grand Slam are always the toughest, you have to adapt to the match rhythm and face strong opponents,” Zhang Rui'en reflected on the two challenging matches. “I was mentally prepared for a tough fight before the matches, which was key to my wins.” Especially against Lin Yuchen, whom she had faced before, Zhang had anticipated her aggressive approach, “I knew she would come at me hard this time, so I was ready for a three-set battle.”

Reaching the last 16 in the Australian Open juniors for the first time, Zhang Rui'en expressed her fondness for the tournament: “I really like the Australian Open; the facilities and services here are top-notch. Just being here makes me happy. I don’t want to carry too much pressure, I just want to enjoy every day and play every point and match well.” As the fifth seed and having reached the third round at the French Open juniors before, this young player is now in her “final season” of junior events with clearer goals. “This is my last Australian Open junior event, so I definitely want to go as far as possible. Winning the title would be perfect.” She admitted, “But I know the level is very high, so I need to give my all in every match and every point. I’m focusing on the present and playing my best in each game.”

Off the court, Zhang Rui'en’s sights are set on the broader adult circuit. This year, she has set a clear ranking goal for herself: “I want to break into the top 300 in the WTA rankings, so that next year with more effort, I can have a chance to compete in Grand Slam qualifiers.” From juniors to adults, she has a clear understanding. “In juniors, I’m ranked higher and often face aggressive opponents; on the adult circuit, I will be the one challenging others, which feels more relaxed mentally.” However, she also recognizes the challenges: “Adult players are more experienced and know how to handle juniors, so I still need to improve my tactics, emotional control, and score management.”

Talking about her playing style, Zhang Rui'en’s admiration for her idols complements her technical traits: “My idol is Federer because I’m a left-hander, but I also really like Nadal.” She excels at using her strengths to create scoring chances, “I like to start points with my serve and also enjoy coming to the net to finish rallies. Changing the pace is my advantage.” At the same time, she does not shy away from her weaknesses, “Sometimes I have minor issues with basic technique control, but with more training, I’m sure I can improve.”

Family is the warmest and strongest support behind Zhang Rui'en’s tennis dreams. Her father Zhang Yilei serves as her coach, her mother carefully manages her physical training and therapy, and her younger brother acts as her hitting partner and cheerleader. The family works seamlessly with clear roles, each supporting her tennis aspirations in their own way. In daily life, her father is a kind and caring parent; but once on the court, he switches immediately to a strict and meticulous coach. “At home, he’s my dad; on the court, he’s my coach. We keep training and family life clearly separated.” Now, Zhang Rui'en has fully adapted to this role distinction and, with her family’s full support, confidently heads to the court without worries.

Zhang Rui'en’s Australian Open journey continues, while her tennis blueprint has already been laid out. This year marks not only her final junior season but also a year of preparation for a full push into the adult circuit. From rigorous winter training at Beijing Daoxianghu School to planned clay court training in Italy and a visit to Nadal’s academy, this young player who loves clay and is skilled on hard courts is steadily building her strength. Just as she has shown resilience on the court, Zhang Rui'en is steadily climbing toward higher goals with passion and dedication on her tennis path.

(Text: Felix, Photo: Li Jianyi)