When Novak Djokovic and Zhizhen Zhang were swinging their rackets under the global spotlight, a middle school student from Shanghai Hongrun Boyuan School was deeply involved in this tennis extravaganza in his own unique way.
Selected from over 3,000 candidates, enduring "boot camp" training in 37°C heat—his story reminds us: the path to the top is never crowded, because there aren't many who persist.
3,000 → 60: A Tough Battle Starting from the "Resume Round"
Over 3,000 national candidates → screened by resumes & interviews → 100 trainees in the training camp → finally 60 selected.
This was originally a track laid out for "tennis youngsters." Wu Jiangxing, who doesn't play tennis, became the "dark horse."
His secret weapon was a bilingual resume filled with sports spirit: the perseverance of triathlons and the physical strength of a Spartan warrior silently proved—he was ready.
"The day of the selection was so hot I almost wanted to give up. But then I thought about the players battling for hours on court—what’s a little hardship compared to that?"
The 37°C Test: Willpower Is the Real Ticket In
August in Shanghai, 37/38°C outdoors. One hundred youngsters repeated the most tedious movements under the scorching sun: stance, picking up balls, rolling balls, handing towels... Every detail had extremely strict rules.
"The coach said we could take a break if we couldn’t handle it, but I noticed that anyone who got distracted, scratched an itch, or even wiped off sweat would have their number noted down."
Twice, he nearly felt dizzy but chose to stand firm and endure. This "test by fire" weeded out not just 40% of his peers, but also any sense of "it’s okay to quit anytime."
Stepping onto the Masters: The Art of "Invisibility" Pushed to the Extreme
Working daily from noon until 11 p.m., on court 4–6 times, each session requiring 60 minutes of full concentration.
The real challenge went far beyond physical endurance. It was about remaining still despite mosquito bites, maintaining a straight posture while drenched in sweat, and suppressing any fan mentality when near superstars to become the most professional "on-court tool."
"No great opportunity ever comes easily." —This was his biggest takeaway from the ball kid journey.
Why Go Through All This? His Answer Goes Beyond "Free Match Views"
His initial motivation was simple: "deep involvement + maybe snagging an autograph or photo."
But by the end of the journey, he gained far more:
A group of "overachiever" friends: He met like-minded, determined peers who love sports. Being around excellence made him shine brighter.
An immersive experience at a top-tier event: The unique sense of involvement, from the stands to the heart of the court.
Joy beyond dopamine: "After climbing Huashan Mountain's summit at age 6 in an eight-hour trek, I learned that the sense of achievement and happiness from accomplishing something difficult through hard work far exceeds any material or dopamine-driven pleasure."
From the peak of Huashan to the courts of the Masters, the stage changed, but not the 100% sense of achievement earned through sweat.
Hongrun Boyuan's Youngster, Steps Never Cease
At Shanghai Hongrun Boyuan School, we encourage every student to explore diverse paths of growth. Wu Jiangxing’s ball kid journey vividly demonstrates: dare to try, prepare fully, and persist relentlessly—then you can stand on any stage you aspire to.
This is just the beginning of his middle school years. His very own "Masters" legend has only just begun.
Let’s cheer for Wu Jiangxing! May he continue to make his mark on the court of life ahead
