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Sun Xinran continues to make history in Beijing at 16: "I am no worse than the others"

Fernando Murciego - 3 Oct 2026
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Sun Xinran continues to make history in Beijing at 16: "I am not worse than the others." Source: Getty

Sun Xinran continues to write her name in the WTA 1000 in Beijing at just 16 years old. The young Chinese player defeated Cristina Bucsa (6-4, 7-5) this Saturday to advance to the third round of the tournament, becoming one of the great sensations of the week. After overcoming two rivals from the top 35 world rankings, the current junior number 1 is now among the 32 survivors in the draw.

“I am very happy. Before the match, I was quite nervous because she has a higher ranking, but I didn’t think too much about that. I simply concentrated on each point,” explained Sun, who admitted to starting a bit tense before finding her best form. For those who missed her story in previous days, she showcased her talent in the first round by defeating the German Eva Lys.

A quote to understand Sun Xinran's mentality

What’s most impressive is that the Chinese teenager does not seem intimidated by the jump in category. In fact, when asked about her two victories against higher-ranked players, she gave a quote that perfectly summarizes her mindset: “When I’m on the court, I think I’m not that bad, and that there isn’t such a great difference.”

Sun also did not want to give too much importance to the fact of being the youngest player since 2014 to achieve multiple victories in the same WTA 1000 tournament, matching a record that previously belonged to Mirra Andreeva. “I don’t think too much about it. I know what my tennis is like, and I trust myself to do these things. I am not worse than the others,” she assured.

The next challenge will be significant: Coco Gauff. “She is an incredible player and a Grand Slam champion. I have watched her matches on TV, and I am very excited to have this opportunity thanks to my own efforts,” she said. Sun, junior champion of the US Open just a few weeks ago, attributes part of her growth to the training program in Shenzhen, where she grew up and has had good facilities, coaches, and a team that supports her progress. Her goal, for now, remains to learn: “This experience can improve my tennis.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sun Xinran sigue haciendo historia en Pekín con 16 años: “No soy peor que las demás”