By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, October 30, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
An impressive Sun rise is lighting up Guangzhou.
In her second WTA main draw, 16-year-old Sun Xinran burst into the Guangzhou Open semifinals with a 7-5, 7-6(2) win over 109th-ranked American Claire Liu.
Talk about a breakout party.
Less than two months after Sun captured the US Open Girls singles championship in Flushing Meadows, the 405th-ranked wild card has thrilled home fans becoming the lowest-ranked semifinalist in Guangzhou history.
Playing with poise, the teenager who contested three straight Grand Slam junior finals has dropped only one set in three tournament victories.
Sun will face Harriet Dart for a spot in Sunday’s final.
British qualifier Dart defeated fifth-seeded Spaniard Paula Badosa, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
It was Dart’s third straight three-set win as she advanced to the second Tour-level semifinal of her career, two years after reaching the final four at the 2024 Cluj-Napoca.
“It’s been a very long time since I’ve been in the business end of the tournament so I am really excited for that,” Dart said.
“Tennis is so stressful, so to have the opportunity to compete again on Saturday is a great opportunity for me.”
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