Chengdu Universiade | Feature: Swiss tennis siblings swing to success at FISU Universiade

Sharing the same passion for sports, Swiss tennis brothers of Henry and Jeffrey Von Der Schulenburg embarked an extraordinary journey together at the Chengdu Universiade.

by Meng Dingwei

CHENGDU, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Swiss tennis players Henry and Jeffrey Von Der Schulenburg share more than just a surname. With a mere two-year age gap and the same passion for sports, the brothers embarked an extraordinary journey together at the 31st FISU World University Games.

Their quest? To conquer the competition, surpass all challenges, and ultimately face each other in the final, at the very pinnacle of the event held in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Henry, the elder of the duo, majors in applied mathematics and economics at Harvard University, while Jeffrey studies global security and justice at the University of Virginia.

Since their childhood, the two brothers have diligently practiced tennis, honing their skills and nurturing a deep companionship that spans nearly two decades. This unwavering bond serves as their strongest support for each other.

During the second round of the men's singles on July 31, both brothers secured a 2-0 victories over their opponents and advanced to the last 16 stage of the tournament.

Two days later, the brothers took to the court for the third round of the men's singles. Though Henry defeated a seeded player in an impressive showdown, fate dealt a different hand to his younger brother, as Jeffrey faced a formidable Japanese opponent and lost his match.

Despite the setback, Jeffrey continued to compete in the men's doubles. In the wake of his singles' elimination, Jeffrey expressed his unwavering support for Henry.

In the competitions on Friday, the Swiss brothers once again played together. Henry fought hard against a Portuguese competitor, finally winning the match and advancing to the men's singles semifinals.

Henry continued his relentless pursuit of excellence, battling fiercely to secure the final berth on Saturday. In Sunday's final, Henry beat Samrej Kasidit from Thailand 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1 to claim the title.

In the men's doubles semifinals on Friday, Jeffrey and his partner narrowly lost to a Czech pair. They rushed to the center court immediately after the match to cheer for Henry who was playing in the men's singles.

"It's always super helpful to have your teammates here," Henry said. "It's also every proud to play for the country."

Henry said he was impressed by the great atmosphere at the tennis court. "It was fun playing at the center court," he said. "Amazing crowd, it's really fun to play."

Henry's admiration extended beyond the on-court excitement. He commended the exceptional organization and high level of efficiency demonstrated by the FISU Universiade organizers.

"It's absolutely incredible, I don't think I've ever played a tournament or at an event with this high level of operation and organization," he said. "I'm really thankful and grateful to be here."

Henry said the Games presented a unique opportunity for the brothers to experience China for the very first time. "Honestly I've never been to China before, but I love China. It's been an amazing experience. I think it's awesome here, and I will definitely come back."

Henry said he loves the food in Chengdu, though it's spicy. "I want to do the drawing and write Chinese letters [in the experience area of the Games Village], and buy some Chinese artworks."