Jinnie Lee claims the title! The iconic song "Yellow Race" echoes through the Guangzhou Open as Zhang Shuai is honored as the "Honorary Runner-up"

The women's singles final at the Guangzhou Tennis Open wrapped up today in a "Chinese heritage derby," with Jinnie Lee edging out Lulu Sun in straight sets 7-6(6), 6-2, to win her second professional tour championship!

It’s worth mentioning that thanks to this title, Lee’s current ranking climbed to No.33, and she will reach a career-high next week. Earlier this year, she reached finals and finished runner-up at two WTA 250 events in Singapore and Cleveland, while her last tour-level title dated back to the 2021 Tenerife tournament.

Lee’s performance at this Guangzhou Open was nearly flawless. She defeated strong competitors including China’s Zhang Shuai without dropping a set on her way to the final. Throughout the matches, she demonstrated intelligence and patience, especially in clutch moments, showing maturity beyond her years.

In the first set tiebreak of the final, after trailing 4-6, she rallied with a precise backhand winner and two excellent serves to win four consecutive points and take the set. This victory laid the foundation for an easier second set. Lulu Sun clearly struggled to recover from the first set loss, with a noticeable drop in serve quality. Lee capitalized by increasing her aggression, breaking serve multiple times, and ultimately sealing the match 6-2.

After the final, the organizers fittingly played the song "Yellow Race," which brought tears to the eyes of the champion, Jinnie Lee.

When asked about the song and her experiences this week, Lee could barely contain her emotions, saying, "It’s very special to return to China to compete after seventeen years, and the support I’ve felt this week is unbelievable. It really feels like coming home."

In a post-match interview, she also shared her family background. Her father is from Changchun, Jilin, China, which is why both she and her brother have the character "Ji" in their names, symbolizing their longing for their hometown.

"My parents want us to always remember where our roots lie," she explained. "Although we grew up in the U.S., our home environment is deeply Chinese." She laughed as she added a bit about her "Chinese traits": "I can even use chopsticks to pick up peanuts, which surprises many of my Chinese friends."

Moreover, Lee’s championship helped Zhang Shuai achieve a remarkable milestone. During the China season, this veteran player performed impressively — from the China Open to the Wuhan Open and Guangzhou Open, she posted a solid 7-3 record in main draws. Interestingly, all three of her losses came against the eventual champions: Anisimova at the China Open, Gauff at the Wuhan Open, and Lee at the Guangzhou Open.

This coincidence led fans on social media to jokingly dub Zhang Shuai the "Honorary Runner-up" and the "Champion Litmus Test."

Following the tournament, social media buzzed with lively discussions.

"Seeing Chinese heritage players succeed internationally and embrace Chinese culture so deeply is truly touching," one user wrote on Weibo.

Another user humorously commented, "Zhang Shuai is the real selfless contributor, dedicated to testing the quality of champions!"

Some more measured voices noted, "The China season is gaining more international influence, and attracting so many outstanding Chinese heritage players back to compete is very beneficial for the sustained development of Chinese tennis."

For Jinnie Lee, this title is not only a breakthrough into the top 33 but also a perfect culmination of her journey to reconnect with her roots. According to the schedule, she will next compete at the Jiangxi Jiujiang Tennis Open, where she is set to face Chinese player Bai Zhuoxuan in the first round. She expressed, "I can’t wait to continue competing in China."

Regardless, the trophy in Lee’s hands and the melody of "Yellow Race" floating over the court tell a tennis story that spans the Pacific, a story named after the deep yearning for one’s roots.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)