Pint-sized Cindy Mingxi Qu packs power on the tennis courts and she proved that size does not matter when she started her campaign at the J30 Phnom Penh with a clinical 6-1, 6-2 win over Singapore’s Kayla Wong.
But, chances are sometime in the future, you are also likely to her find name on the bookshelves rather on a trophy.
While she is determined to do well in tennis, she also yearns to be a writer.
“If I had to choose, I would probably choose to be writing,” said Cindy, who had even self-published her own book on Kindle.
Like anyone, who loves writing, the Shanghai born Cindy also has an appetite to read.
“I don’t have a particular genre that I like. I’ll read any book. I have a huge collection of downloaded books although I do like a hard copy in hand,” said Cindy, who almost got into a big problem because of her love for reading.
She brought a copy of the George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones to school to show it to her friends when she was in Grade 6.
“My teacher saw that and reprimanded me, saying the book contained explicit contents. Luckily I was let off with that and not brought to the principal,” said Cindy, who is currently studying online.
Her immediate hope was to play good enough to continue her studies in the USA and play collegiate tennis.
“I have not decided on turning pro. That is a decision that I would look into based on my progress at the collegiate level,” said the pragmatic lass.
Cindy, who will play India’s Riya Gangamma Pudiyokkada in the quarter-finals tomorrow, was introduced to tennis by her childhood friend Natalie Zhang.
“She actually gave me a tennis racquet as birthday present when I was younger. She is now studying in the USA and still plays,” said Cindy.
Cindy was quick to add that she was also not in the best of health when she was younger and tennis was something she took up also because of it.
Cindy’s budding career and her off court interest has been supported by her parents. She travels to overseas tournaments with her dad Yi Qu, whom she described as ‘chill”.
“My parents support has been instrumental. Even when I play badly, they don’t blame me but look at the cause.”
“I don’t always agree with my dad. But he is open minded and chill, he has a cold sense of humour while mom is easily agitated,” said Cindy, whose best appearance this year was making the semi-finals of the J30 Islamabad in October.
She also made the doubles final in Islamabad partnering Zihan Feng. The pair bowed 6-4, 3-6 5-10 to the Turkish pair of Deniz Cakil-Serife Pelin Sari.
Cindy said that being of a smaller physique meant she almost always had to work harder than most players.
“I anyone says I played good, it meant I was fast, quick and agile. Got to work harder,” she added.
She also added that she also cared about what others say about her and her game.
“I am sensitive. I cry a lot even watching Disney movies,” said Cindy.
But be rest assured that behind the diminutive facade, there is a lioness at heart.
SEEDED PLAYERS FALL BEFORE RAIN INTERRUPTION
Rain once again interrupted the competition with several matches being postponed, but not before several lower ranked players had their say.
Austrian Jonathan Roth, who had to play in the boy’s singles qualifiers, upset fifth seeded Kim Kyungone 6-1, 6-1 to earn a second round match against China’s Tian Rungu.
The Austrian lad, was beaten in the opening round of the Tep Khunnah Memorial Cup by eventual champion Shin Jaejung of Korea.
Jaejung was an easy 6-1, 6-1 winner over Australian Prachanda Komarla in his match-up.
China’s Youwen, meanwhile, packed off second seed Chanya Ng Kai Ning of Singapore in the second round. The unseeded Chinese youngster beat Chanya, the runner-up at the Tep Khunnah Memorial, 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.
Top seeded Malaysian Daania Daniella Hazli started her campaign for a second title in as many weeks by dismantling China’s Chen Qingan 6-2, 6-0 in her opening second round match.
India’s Riya Gangamma Pudiyokkada upset China’s third seeded Zihan Feng 6-3,6-0 while Singapore’s Hannah Giam got past sixth seeded Lara Rauti of Hong Kong 7-5, 6-3.
Korean Ha-An Park came back from a set down to beat seventh seeded Chinese Xu Yishan 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Also through to the next round is the boy’s singles top seed Gao Ruochen of China who defeated Singaporean Andre Harnadi 6-2, 6-2.
Ruochen is also the top seed in the boy’s doubles with Indonesian partner Joachim Mika Gunawan, and the pair opened accounts with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of the Malaysian-Britain duo Aqil Adibi Rahiman-Haqim Kamal.
RESULTS
BOYS SINGLES
First Round: Ruochen Gao (Chn) [1] bt Andre Harnadi (Sgp) 6-2, 6-2; Rungu Tian (Chn) bt Matthew Tay (Sgp) 6-3, 6-1; Haoxuan Xu (Chn) bt Allen Leong (Sgp) 6-3, 6-3; Haqim Kamal (Gbr) [8] bt Shunhua He (Chn) 6-3, 6-3; Bon Hong Koo (Kor) [3] bt Malay Keyurbhai Minjrola Keyurbhai Minjrola (Ind) 6-0, 7-6 (4); Jonathan Roth (Aut) bt Kyungone Kim (Kor) [5] 6-1, 6-1; Shin Jaejun (Kor) [4] bt Prachanda Komarla (Aus) 6-1, 6-1
BOYS DOUBLES
First Round:
Ruochen Gao-Joachim Mika Gunawan (Chn-Ina) [1] bt Aqil Adibi Rahiman-Haqim Kamal (Mas-Gbr) 6-4, 6-3; Yefei Song-Haoxuan Xu (Chn) bt Andre Harnadi-Matthew Tay (Sgp) 6-4, 4-1 retired;
GIRLS SINGLES
Second Round: Zijie Yang (Chn) [4] bt Niyati Hiranandani Bhandari (Ind) 6-4, 6-3; Daania Daniella Hazli (Mas) [1] bt Qingan Chen (Chn) 6-2, 6-0; Mingxi Qu (Chn) [8] bt Kayla Wong (Sgp) 6-1, 6-2; Youwen Shi (Chn) bt Kai Ning Chanya Ng (Sgp) [2] 6-4, 6-2; Hannah Giam (Sgp) bt Lara Rauti (Hkg) [6] 7-5, 6-3; Ha-An Park (Kor) bt Yishan Xu (Chn) [7] 1-6, 6-4, 6-3; Riya Gangamma Pudiyokkada (Ind) bt Zihan Feng (Chn) [3] 6-3,6-0; Shiqing Yuan (Chn) [5] bt Hanyu Wang (Chn) 6-3, 6-2
