Tennis players compete at the 2024 ITF International Junior Tennis Tour Juniors (J30) in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

The 2024 ITF International Junior Tennis Tour Juniors (J30) Jiaxing station is in full swing, heating up the courts from July 7 to 14.

This event, authorized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and hosted by the Chinese Tennis Association, has attracted over 300 young athletes from 12 countries, with 205 making the final cut.

The tournament features boys' singles, girls' singles, boys' doubles, and girls' doubles competitions. Champions will be crowned on July 14, earning 30 ITF junior ranking points.

Fifteen-year-old Wu Tianhao from Shenzhen, who credits Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal for inspiring his play, is competing in his fifth ITF tournament this year. "It's my first time in Jiaxing. The facilities and environment are excellent, and I hope to perform well," he said.

South Korean coach Jung Sung-geun brought four players and scheduled practice sessions from 10 am to noon to help them acclimate to the heat. "This helps them avoid heatstroke and perform better," he explained.

The ITF International Junior Tennis Tour is a key platform for players aged 13 to 18 to earn points and improve their world rankings. Local talents like Pan Yanshuo, Wang Xinzhi, and Pan Yinxuan will also compete, with Pan recently joining the national tennis team's second line-up.