Alberta’s own Sophie Rachel Murray and Zimo Xiang Bai made their province proud, reaching the finals of the U12 Fischer Indoor Nationals. The duo were crowned Indoor Provincial Champions a month prior and entered the national tournament as the third seed.
At nationals, Sophie and Zimo marched their way to the finals, beginning with an impressive win over a British Columbia team, followed by a second victorious performance over another Alberta squad. They showed nerves of steel, prevailing in a tiebreak over a formidable Ontario-based team in the semi-finals. They would only fall to the first seed—a duo from BC and Atlantic Canada—in the championship match.
The national championships were held here in Alberta at the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre, where both girls practice their craft. Sophie and Zimo participate in the centre’s high-performance program and are coached by Tennis Professionals Marin Cens and Diana Jacobs, respectively.
What’s next for the girls? The two are preparing for the outdoor season, where they hope to take another swing at a national title.
