On 25th July, the ‘2025 International University Tennis Friendship Invitational & Cultural Exchange Week’, jointly organised by East China University of Science and Technology and Shanghai Jiushi (Group) Co., Ltd., commenced at ECUST. Thirty-six university tennis players and coaches from thirteen institutions, including Yale University, Dartmouth College, Stevens Institute of Technology, and East China University of Science and Technology, gathered together to forge new chapters in the story of sporting friendship.
The opening ceremony was attended by Liming ZHAO, vice president of ECUST; Jianlin FAN, member of the party committee and vice president of Shanghai International Sports Service Group Co., Ltd.; Yang Yibin, Party Secretary and Chairman of Shanghai Jiushi (Group) Co., Ltd.; Wenfang XU, party secretary of the School of Sports Science and Engineering at ECUST; and Xiaopeng LI, dean of the College of International Education.
Liming ZHAO stated in his address that the university actively integrates into the nation's strategy of opening up to the world and places great emphasison internationalisation efforts. Beyond teaching and research, the institution attaches significant importance to and fully harnesses the vital role of sport in fostering the holistic development of individuals. He expressed his hope that through this friendly competition, young people from various nations would utilise sport - a universal language - to build bridges of friendship, learn from one another during the matches, grow together, and collectively strive towards creating a more beautiful world.
In his address, Yibin YANG stated that Jiushi and ECUST have actively responded to president Jinping XI's significant ‘50,000 in 5 years’ initiative. Through resource sharing and complementary strengths, they have achieved notable results in innovating sports talent development systems and exploring the integration of sports and education. Having jointly organised the International University Tennis Friendship Invitational for two consecutive years, both parties will continue to deepen their university-enterprise collaboration model. This will further contribute to ing international sports and cultural exchange while enhancing Shanghai's global influence.
Matthew Benjamin Kandel from Furman University in the United States and Lindsay Alden Hung from Yale University spoke on behalf of the athletes and coaches respectively.
Following the opening ceremony, the tournament commenced in earnest. On court, athletes moved at breakneck speed, executing unpredictable shots and delivering a succession of spectacular points. They showcased the youthful exuberance and competitive spirit of the next generation to the fullest, treating spectators to multiple high-calibre encounters.
After three days of fierce competition, Monash University claimed the men's team title, while ECUST secured the women's team crown. The mixed doubles championship was won by the pairing of Emmanuel from Monash University and Zhiyang GAO from East China University of Science and Technology. Kant of Forman University successfully defended his men's singles title in the final, while the women's singles crown was clinched by Yiru CHEN of ECUST.
At the awards ceremony, Weihong ZHU, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and vice president of ECUST; Lin LU, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports; and Huaqun ZHANG, general manager of Jiushi, presented awards to the winning athletes. With this, the 2025 International University Tennis Friendship Invitational & Cultural Exchange Week drew to a successful close. The event's triumphant conclusion painted a splendid picture of ‘Tennis Connect Continents, Youth Weaves Harmony’.
Beyond the tennis tournament, student athletes from China, the United States and Australia have participated in a high-level innovation workshop led by Chinese and international academicians at ECUST. Embracing the role of “Shanghainese for a day”, they cycled shared bicycles, navigated the metro network and enjoyed evening runs along the riverfront. Visits to the Four Sages Bank Warehouse War Memorial, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Jiushi Xujiahui Sports Park and the Meet-the-World Lounge provided a comprehensive, multi-dimensional experience of contemporary China.
Leon Liu of Williams College remarked in his post-match interview: ‘It was absolutely brilliant to compete against teams from China and Australia! Tennis itself is immensely enjoyable, but what delighted me most was making so many new friends this week. The value of these encounters proved even more meaningful than the matches themselves. My sincere thanks to East China University of Science and Technology for organising this unforgettable experience!’
Yale coach Lindsay remarked: ‘I can speak for all the American student-athletes when I say we've had the most wonderful time both on and off the court! Not only did we experience Chinese culture, but we also made friends from all corners of the globe. I absolutely must return next year to savour this beautiful place once more!’