Oil city Karamay serves up tennis dreams

At the ongoing 15th Xinjiang Games, nine regions sent under-18 players across two age groups, marking a record turnout. Karamay remains a strong force, but its dominance is facing growing challenges.

Once numbering fewer than 50 players, Xinjiang's youth tennis community has now grown to about 500, with specialized clubs emerging to provide greater support for the next generation.

"Urumqi, the regional capital, is developing quickly, with more courts, coaches and families embracing tennis," Alipjan Awut said. "I'm not worried. The more people play, the stronger Xinjiang tennis will become."

Still, Alipjan Awut knows Karamay has a long way to go to reach the level of the world's leading tennis regions. For him, that gap has always been motivation to improve.

In 2024, Alipjan Awut became a senior coach certified by the Chinese Tennis Association. For him, building a tennis ecosystem in Karamay remains a long-term endeavor.

"Honestly, it is a long process," he said. "But one day, I hope players from my team can also step out of Xinjiang and represent this region on a bigger stage."