The 2026 “Luzhou Bank Cup” National Soft Tennis Championships officially opened on November 5 at the Olympic Sports Park Tennis Center in Luzhou, Sichuan. The tournament marks the first time the city has hosted the highest-level professional soft tennis competition in China, according to local reports from Sichuan Online.
The competition serves as a hub for three major national events: the National Soft Tennis Championships, the National Soft Tennis Championship Tournament, and the National Youth Soft Tennis Championships. Over the course of the eight-day schedule, which concludes on November 12, more than 260 athletes representing 39 teams will compete across various categories.
Opening Match Dynamics
The intensity of the opening rallies drew audible reactions from spectators in the stands, who gathered to watch the start of the national-level event.
"The courts here are excellent, the hardware is very good, and the staff’s service attitude is very thoughtful," Niu said regarding the facilities at the Olympic Sports Park.
Luzhou Hosts Free Tournament with Public Access
The opening ceremony featured formal oaths from athlete representative Li Nan and referee representative Huang Yan-nan, both of whom pledged to uphold sportsmanship and fair play.
Gong Xu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Luzhou Municipal People’s Government, noted that the city has recently focused on hosting high-level sporting events, such as the ITF International Tennis Open and the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championships. The tournament is free to the public, with organizers encouraging citizens to attend and observe the matches.
Soft Tennis Uses Different Equipment and Scoring Rules
While soft tennis is played on the same court dimensions as traditional hard-ball tennis, the equipment and scoring systems differ. Players use a lightweight, flexible racket and a hollow rubber ball that moves at a slower speed. Matches in this tournament follow specific scoring rules: games are played to four points, with a deuce requiring a two-point lead to win the game. Singles matches are decided by a best-of-seven format, while doubles matches are best-of-nine.
The event is scheduled to continue through November 12, with the remaining rounds determining the champions across the three national-level categories.
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