Rising tennis star Chengdu “challenges” making dumplings to immerse himself in Chinese culture

On October 14, in Chengdu, a group of young athletes participating in the International Tennis Federation’s Junior Year-End Finals took on a unique challenge: making dumplings, a traditional Chinese delicacy symbolizing reunion and harmony. As they filled the dough with savory meat and expertly sealed the edges, the players immersed themselves in this rich aspect of Chinese culture.

The finals, which feature 16 top junior players from around the world, will kick off on October 16 in Chengdu, a city renowned for hosting significant sporting events. Among the exceptional talents are Rafael Nadal’s junior US Open singles champion and the current world junior girls’ number one, Emerson Jones from Australia.

ITF President David Haggerty, who was attempting to make dumplings for the first time, expressed his enjoyment of the experience, admitting his skills needed some work, “I may not be great at making them, but I can assure you they taste fantastic!”

Looking ahead to the upcoming matches, Haggerty shared his excitement. “Chengdu is a city of great sporting significance. Aside from hosting the ITF Junior Year-End Finals, it has been the venue for many international competitions, including the World University Games. I’m eager to see how the players perform here.”

Laura Samson from the Czech Republic, who is competing in Chengdu for the second time, reflected on her experience. Last year, she finished sixth in this event and is hoping for better results this year. “I didn’t do as well as I wanted last time, so I’m aiming to improve and go further in the tournament,” she said.

Top seed Rafael Nadal also expressed a keen interest in Chinese culture. Prior to arriving in Chengdu, he researched the city online. “I found that there is a totally different culture here compared to Europe. The dumpling-making activity tonight has been a wonderful experience; I feel like this is a very livable place.”