Tennis superstar, former World No. 1 Boris Becker is teaming up with the Mission Hills Group, aiming to develop the sport in China and unearth Chinese Grand Slam champions.

In conjunction with Mission Hills, the six-time Grand Slam champion will simultaneously create World’s first Boris Becker Tennis Academy here in China.

During a visit to the site, the legendary German said: “I am thrilled to be here to announce this exciting partnership with Mission Hills.

“I am passionate about helping young tennis players to develop and it is my great hope that here at the Boris Becker Tennis Academy at Mission Hills we can uncover China’s next generation of tennis stars, and set them on their way to becoming Grand Slam contenders.”

Tenniel Chu, Mission Hills’ Vice Chairman, said: “We are excited to welcome Boris Becker to China and to announce a co-operation between him and Mission Hills that will result in the creation of the world’s number one tennis academy.

“Mission Hills is already acknowledged as China’s highest-rated golf and leisure resort – and the world’s largest golf club.

“With the support and direct input of Boris, Mission Hills can now further cement its position as the pre-eminent tennis venue in China.”

Photo

World No.35 Lee Jung-Min of South Korea stormed to her eighth career title with a one stroke victory over compatriots Lee Seung-Hyun, Kim Bo-Kyung and Ji Han Sol in the World Ladies Championship at Mission Hills Resort Dongguan in China.

Despite dropping two strokes in the last three holes, eight birdies in a final round 66 was just enough for Lee to hold on as her closest challengers all blew their chances in damp and testing conditions on the Olazabal Course.

It was a nerve biting finish as the clubhouse leader Lee dropped into a three-way share of the lead with namesake Lee and Ji at nine-under-par after making bogey on the final hole. She then watched as Lee then made the same mistake.

After Kim ended on eight under par, Ji needed to birdie the difficult par-4 18th to tie. Although she hit an excellent approach shot that just edged the hole, she pushed her birdie putt of 12 feet wide of the hole, meaning that Lee could take home the individual title and USD 105,000 in prize money.

There was double cause for celebration as Lee also won the concurrent team competition with partner Ko Jin-Young. An aggregate score of 12-under-par put the South Korean pair 15 strokes ahead of the French duo Gwladys Nocera and Céline Herbin, with Chinese Taipei duo Lin Tzi-Chi and Kuo Ai-Chen five strokes further behind in third.

This was the first edition of the World Ladies Championship to be sanctioned by the Korean LPGA Tour as well as the Ladies European Tour and China LPGA and resulted in nine KLPGA players in the top 12 places in total.
Other notable performances came from the Australians Stacey Keating and Sarah Kemp, Noora Tamminen of Finland and Céline Herbin of France, who were part of a large group sharing 19th.

The World Ladies Championship continues its long-standing partnership with the world’s leading renowned global services brand, American Express.

Photo