|
Richmond resident Juliet Zhang, 17, is one of the younger players in this year’s Leith Wheeler Stanley Park Open amateur tennis tournament, North America’s largest public-court competition. |
The historic event, in its 84th year, is on until July 19 and is expected to draw 15,000 spectators to the park.
Zhang is one of 1,500 participants, ranging in age from under eight to 85 years, who will play tennis for the next couple of weeks.
The grassroots, family-friendly community event showcases the best of amateur tennis and in the tradition of the event, which is to encourage people of all ages to develop a love of tennis, is free to all.
Zhang started to play when she was seven and has never looked back. She has trained at Richmond’s River Club, as well as in the United States.
Last year, the teen played in the Richmond Open, where she won the under 18 junior singles competition.She has just come off a win at the Burnaby Women’s Open Tournament as well.
Zhang is currently ranked 490th in the International Tennis Federation World Junior Rankings. She is ranked in the top three in local B.C. rankings and is in the top 20 in Canada’s junior rankings.
Her dream, like that of many young competitive tennis players, she admits, is to one day play in the Grand Slam tournaments.
nRichmond’s Juliet Zhang will be one of around 1,500 competitors taking to the tennis courts at Stanley Park next week for one of the largest public tournaments on the continent. Photo submitted
Zhang serving it up in Stanley Park
