Teenage Talents Shine on Day 2 of China Open

Sixteen-year-old Sun Xinran, the junior No. 1, entered the tournament following her first junior Grand Slam victory at the US Open last month. She opened strong, defeating Eva Lys—who retired while trailing 6-1, 3-0 due to a foot injury. Sun's performance on Diamond Court lasted only 43 minutes but captivated the audience with her impressive skills.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Qu Yihan engaged in a marathon match on Court 3 against Harriet Dart, lasting 3 hours and 3 minutes. Although Qu ultimately lost 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5, her resilience marked her as a player to watch.

In a post-match press conference, Sun reflected on her nerves before the match, recalling that despite her junior success—including getting to the girls' finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon—her previous professional highlights were modest, consisting of two W15 titles in Sharm el Sheikh and her first Top 200 win.

Despite initial nerves that led to dropping her serve in the opening game, Sun quickly regained composure and dominated the following games. She showcased her shot-making ability, including a well-timed drop shot winner and powerful backhands that secured the set. Sun shared, "Honestly I feel good on the court. I'm just making my tactic and just following what I need to do. Match go really well, like my way." She will face No. 27 seed Cristina Bucsa in the next round.

Qu struggled early against Dart but rallied after trailing, showcasing her aggressive style in an extended battle. Although she led the second set 4-2 and reached set points, Dart's experience ultimately proved crucial. Qu's final game was marked by a lapse in concentration, allowing Dart to clinch the match.

In other matches, the two other teenage wild cards had challenging outings. Anastasia Zakharova defeated 17-year-old Shao Yushan 6-0, 6-2 in 59 minutes, while qualifier Storm Hunter overcame 16-year-old Lin Yu-Jun 6-2, 6-1 in 66 minutes.