Intense competition

Accompanying her every step is her mother, Dong Yi, who plays an integral role in Mengxiao's journey. Dong handles all logistics, from booking accommodation to transportation, while also providing support during matches and assisting with physical recovery.

"Since the Chinese New Year until the National Day holiday, we've been competing almost every weekend in various cities. The domestic tournament and ranking system is quite developed, and the competition is intense. As parents, we've become experts in calculating points," Dong said.

"This competition-based training has proved beneficial for Mengxiao. We identify challenges through matches and then work to address them in practice."

While it remains uncertain whether Mengxiao will pursue a professional tennis career, Dong acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead. Having already claimed several tournament victories, Mengxiao's recent experience as a ball girl temporarily removed her from competition and the opportunity to accumulate points, causing her to drop several ranks and jeopardizing her chances of making the year-end finals.

Dong plans to discuss future tournament participation with Mengxiao, but emphasizes that the decision to serve as a ball girl was ultimately her child's choice, and the family fully supports it.

"Since she returned from her experience as a ball girl, I've seen remarkable growth in her. It seems her capacity for independent thinking has matured significantly, which I consider a tremendous gain," Dong said.

Huang Yanhong, the director of the tennis management center at the Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau, said that nurturing a "phenomenal athlete" is a significant challenge.

"The success of such athletes is rooted in a legacy passed down through generations of tennis players. Great coaches cultivate exceptional students, who, upon retiring, often become excellent coaches themselves. This cycle fosters the continuous growth and development of the sport," she noted.

"We have effectively established a professional, international, and commercial model for training tennis players," Huang added.

To provide young athletes with ample opportunities for competition, Hubei has secured several international tournaments, including the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open. Additionally, the province hosts the ITF Junior Tour in Wuhan and Jingshan, while local youth tennis competitions are held nearly every week in Wuhan.

The annual Youth Tennis Championships in Hubei are a key event for players aged 8 to 18. This year's tournament attracted over 500 participants, with matches taking place from 8 am to 10 pm daily.

"Our organizational structure is now robust. Each city has its own association, weekly tournaments are scheduled, and there's tennis available every day," Huang said.

In 2014, Wuhan native Li Na made history as the first Asian player to win the Australian Open singles title. Zheng, then 11, and her teammates cheered in front of the TV.

A decade later the wheel turned full circle, when Zheng's Olympic victory was witnessed by young fans like 11-year-old Mengxiao, who watched from their homes.