On the fifth day of the Year of the Horse, the "God of Wealth" arrived, with Sun Yiming clinching victory by a single point to lift the trophy, marking a successful conclusion to the Shanghai New Year Cup.

On the fifth day of the lunar New Year in the Year of the Horse, a day traditionally called "Breaking the Fifth to Welcome the God of Wealth," the Shanghai Gymnasium saw a genuine "millionaire" emerge. In the ultimate battle of the 2026 New Year Cup One-Point-Win Tennis Grand Prix, Henan’s Sun Yiming sealed the million-yuan grand prize with a spectacular serve landing in the far corner of zone two, scoring outright. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Rolex New Year Cup mixed doubles exhibition also delivered numerous memorable moments, bringing the several-day-long tennis celebration in Shanghai to a perfect close.

This afternoon, the one-point-win final started as scheduled, featuring Henan’s Sun Yiming against Beijing’s Liu Meng. The stakes were brutal: winning this point meant taking home the million-yuan prize, losing meant leaving empty-handed.

At the crucial moment, Sun Yiming showed no hesitation, delivering a high-quality serve. Liu Meng’s backhand slice went into the net, and with the umpire’s call, the match ended. Sun Yiming claimed victory with that direct serve, proudly holding the million-yuan check in his hands.

Notably, Sun Yiming began playing tennis only during university and is well-known in amateur tennis circles. Many players praise his technique as precise and his gameplay as very smart. After the match, the commentator said, “So as long as everyone loves tennis and practices, they can reach this level and maybe even win a million-yuan prize in the future!” Netizens also expressed their feelings: “Hard work pays off! The Year of the Horse’s God of Wealth favors those who are prepared.”

Looking back at this year’s competition, 512 amateur players from the Yangtze River Delta and across the country gathered to celebrate the New Year with heart-pounding matches. Veteran player Lin Zhiwei from Nanjing shared many participants’ sentiments: “On the second and third days, I played and enjoyed the joy of competing; during the following days, I relaxed and watched the stars play, fulfilling my fan dreams.”

An experienced commentator reviewed the “one-point-win” format, noting that it balances skill and luck, emphasizes equal opportunity, and embodies the sports dream that “anyone can become a hero.” In the inaugural 2020 event, there were upsets caused by double faults, and some male players even used unusual underhand serves against female opponents. As one netizen put it, “This format might not be considered traditional tennis, but it definitely attracts more people to follow the sport.”

If the one-point-win represents the grassroots hero’s dream, then the New Year Cup Tennis Legends Exhibition is a nostalgic feast for fans.

On the first day of the legends exhibition yesterday, the Pegasus team faced off against the Qilin team in five thrilling matches. Led by six domestic and international stars including Barty, Del Potro, Tsonga, Lopez, Wang Qiang, and Li Zhe, the Shanghai Gymnasium glittered with star power. After the first day, Pegasus narrowly led Qilin 9-8, holding a slim one-point advantage going into today’s final showdown.

Wang Qiang, beloved by Chinese fans, shone in the mixed doubles exhibition match. Facing her former “big brother” Del Potro, she displayed excellent touch, repeatedly hitting impressive cross-court shots from the baseline that left the tall Argentine frustrated. Social media buzzed with jokes: “Del Potro’s knees just can’t hold up,” “Wang Qiang has Del Potro questioning his life choices.” Although Del Potro’s movement was slower than his peak, his signature forehand power and warm smile still earned thunderous applause from the crowd.

Ultimately, after four days of competition, the Pegasus team led by Barty, Del Potro, and Li Zhe defeated the Qilin team captained by Wang Qiang, Tsonga, and Lopez to win the inaugural New Year Cup Tennis Legends trophy! Notably, Del Potro also received his exclusive fan nickname “Big Pineapple” after the match.

From the rapid heartbeat of one-point-win to the nostalgic melodies of the legends, this event is not only a tennis Spring Festival but also a celebration of Shanghai’s sports culture. As Wen Hui Daily noted, this tournament fills a gap in New Year sports events and continuously unleashes the city’s consumption potential through competition.

Welcoming the God of Wealth in the Year of the Horse, Sun Yiming is the lucky one. The joy of tennis belongs to everyone who steps onto the court. Looking forward to meeting again next Spring Festival at Shanghai Gymnasium!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)