Tian Fangran Explained

Tian Fangran
Chinese: 田方然
Birth Date:2003 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Beijing, China
Height:5 ft 5 in
College:UCLA (2023–)
Plays:Right (two-handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney:$64,840
Singlestitles:3 ITF
Highestsinglesranking:No. 361 (5 August 2024)
Currentsinglesranking:No. 364 (12 August 2024)
Australianopenjuniorresult:1R (2020)
Frenchopenjuniorresult:1R (2019)
Doublestitles:5 ITF
Highestdoublesranking:No. 371 (15 July 2024)
Currentdoublesranking:No. 383 (12 August 2024)
Updated:18 August 2024
S:田方然

Tian Fangran (born 10 August 2003) is a Chinese tennis player. Playing college tennis for the UCLA Bruins, she won the 2023 NCAA Singles Championship. Up to date, she has won three singles titles and five doubles titles on the ITF Circuit.

Tennis career

Raised in Beijing, Tian went to high school at Capital Normal University (CNU)'s Yuxin School.[1] She played on the ITF Junior Circuit from 2017 to 2020, winning two Grade 5 singles titles and two Grade 4 doubles titles, and reaching a peak junior ranking of No. 121.[2] She twice won wildcards into junior Grand Slam main draws in singles, at the 2019 French Open and the 2020 Australian Open.[2]

Tian started playing on the ITF World Tour in February 2019 at the age of 15.[3] Over three weeks from October to November 2021, she partnered with Back Da-yeon to win two doubles titles and reach a third final at consecutive W15 events in Antalya, Turkey.[3] She reached the final of the singles draw in one of the weeks in Antalya.[4] In November 2022, she won the W15 singles event in Champaign, Illinois, without dropping a set.[5]

Tian came to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in 2022–2023 as a relatively unheralded recruit but quickly proved herself in the team's No. 1 singles spot, going undefeated in her 15 regular-season matches.[6] [7] She was named the Pac-12 Conference's Freshman/Newcomer of the Year in tennis.[8] Seeded No. 9–16 in singles at the 2023 NCAA Championships, she did not drop a set in six matches as she won UCLA's first individual title since Keri Phebus in 1995, beating Maddy Sieg of rival USC in the semifinals and Layne Sleeth of Oklahoma in the final.[9] [10] She was named Rookie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).[11]

In 2023, she received a wildcard for her home tournament, the China Open.

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 5 (3 titles, 2 runner-ups)

Legend
W25 tournaments
W15 tournaments (3–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (3–1)
Clay (0–1)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1ITF Antalya, TurkeyW15Clay Julia Riera6–7(3), 1–6
Win1–1ITF Champaign, United StatesW15Hard Sara Daavettila6–1, 6–3
Loss1–2Rancho Santa Fe Open, USW15Hard Megan McCray1–6, 6–0, 4–6
Win2–2ITF San Diego, USW15Hard Aspen Schuman6–1, 6–2
Win3–2ITF Los Angeles, USW15Hard Jessica Luisa Alsola6–2, 6–1

Doubles: 8 (5 titles, 3 runner-ups)

Legend
W60 tournaments (0–1)
W25/35 tournaments (1–1)
W15 tournaments (4–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (3–2)
Clay (2–1)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0ITF Antalya, TurkeyW15Clay Back Da-yeon Doğa Türkmen
Melis Ayda Uyar
7–6(5), 6–1
Loss1–1ITF Antalya, TurkeyW15Clay Back Da-yeon Ksenia Laskutova
Aleksandra Pospelova
6–2, 2–6, [6–10]
Win2–1ITF Antalya, TurkeyW15Clay Back Da-yeon Anna Chekanskaya
Zoziya Kardava
7–5, 6–3
Win3–1ITF San Diego, USW15Hard Kimmi Hance Malaika Rapolu
Anita Sahdiieva
3–6, 6–1, [11–9]
Win4–1ITF Los Angeles, USW15Hard Rinon Okuwaki María Fernanda Navarro
Brandy Walker
7–5, 6–3
Loss4–2Aug 2023ITF Valladolid, SpainW25Hard Ava Markham Alexandra Bozovic
Sarah Beth Grey
5–7, 0–6
Loss4–3Caldas da Rainha Open, PortugalW60+HHard Ashley Lahey Francisca Jorge
Matilde Jorge
1–6, 6–2, [7–10]
Win5–3Jun 2024ITF Tauste, SpainW35+HHard Rutuja Bhosale Alana Parnaby
Victoria Rodríguez
6–2, 6–4

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fangran Tian – Women's Tennis. UCLA Athletics. 8 June 2023.
  2. Web site: Fangran Tian Tennis Player Profile (junior). International Tennis Federation. 8 June 2023.
  3. Web site: Fangran Tian Tennis Player Profile. International Tennis Federation. 8 June 2023.
  4. Web site: W15 Antalya 2021 Tennis Tournament. 7 November 2021. International Tennis Federation. 8 June 2023.
  5. Web site: W15 Champaign, IL 2022 Tennis Tournament. 13 November 2022. International Tennis Federation. 8 June 2023.
  6. News: Nelson's Noggin: The power of Fangran Tian offers hope for UCLA women's tennis. Nelson. Jack. 5 April 2023. Daily Bruin. 8 June 2023.
  7. News: Fangran Tian Named UCLA Student-Athlete of Week, presented by Ready. 30 May 2023. UCLA Athletics. 8 June 2023.
  8. 1654185967652044800. Fangran Tian is your #Pac12Tennis Freshman/Newcomer of the Year!. uclawtennis. UCLA Women's Tennis. 4 May 2023.
  9. News: UCLA's Fangran Tian Wins NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Championship. Connon. Sam. 27 May 2023. FanNation. 8 June 2023.
  10. News: Fangran Tian Wins NCAA Singles Championship. 27 May 2023. UCLA Athletics. 8 June 2023.
  11. News: Tian Named Nation's Top Rookie by ITA. 12 June 2023. UCLA Athletics. 14 June 2023.