Tennis amateur pairs face off for rankings in Hengqin

The China Tennis Club League held a two-day event in Zhuhai on July 21 with a prize pool of 60,000 yuan (nearly $9,400). It produced two champion teams that will be given direct entry to the year-end final competition.

In all, 150 tennis players comprising 18 teams battled on the courts of the Hengqin International Tennis Center in Shizimen Business District. They were divided into two groups: Youth for those over 18 and Middle-Aged for those over 40.

The Zhuhai event, in its second year, was the last of the four competitions in the league's South Division, all held in different cities. The Guangdong Tennis Federation came out first in the Youth Group while a Guangzhou-based sports club claimed the other title. Runners-up ranking from second to fifth now move on to compete in divisional series to qualify for the finals.

Opening ceremony in Zhuhai [Photo by Li Jianshu / Zhuhai Daily]

North Division events will follow in Beijing, Meihekou of Jilin Province, and Wuhan of Hubei Province, among other cities.

The newly developed China Tennis Club League is the largest, highest-level, and most comprehensive amateur team event within the Chinese Tennis Association. This year's program began in March and will run through November. It is expected to attract 2,000 participants in 11 meets.

The main goal is to promote national fitness by supporting the development of sports clubs, according to the organizing committee.

Pairs face off

Jubilant winners [Photos courtesy WeChat account (ID: cta-cl)]