Tennis is a sport that emphasizes rhythm.

A player who controls the rhythm controls the match, whether by maintaining their own flow or disrupting that of their opponent.

For Qu Ying, a versatile 54-year-old entertainment artist who balances roles as a model, actress, comedian, host and singer, this philosophy of tennis applies equally to her life.

In March, she appeared as a guest on a vertical-screen talk show — an interview format specifically for short video platforms — where she humorously recounted her daily life with a rapid-fire delivery of jokes.

For instance, she said that, once, when she went grocery shopping in Thailand, her poor English caused her to mishear "spinach" as "Spanish". Thinking the vendor assumed she was from Spain because of her "exotic looks", she loudly corrected him: "Chinese!"

The puzzled vendor, thinking she wanted him to speak Chinese, gingerly pulled out his phone to display the Chinese character for "spinach" using a translation app. Only then did she realize her mistake.

She also refused overtime work, stating that she proactively requests "minimum pay, plus fixed working hours" in her contracts.

When asked to recommend practical products, she pulled out a pair of 10 yuan ($1.46) reading glasses and 2.5 yuan earrings, saying, "I don't need that much money, because I only buy cheap things anyway."

She also poked fun at her own tennis skills, calling herself "passionate but unskilled".

Last year, she organized the inaugural Lun Lun Cup tennis tournament, which saw Qu and other celebrities, who love the sport, take on a selection of players from the amateur Tennis 123 championship.

Leveraging her close friendship with Wang Jun, founder of Tennis 123, she invited some of her famous friends, including singer Wang Zhengliang and actor Bao Jianfeng, to compete against, and in most cases, to be thoroughly defeated by the non-celebrity amateurs.

These clips quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms, bringing her — as someone who rarely stays in the public spotlight — back into widespread conversation.

"I'm having a second act," she joked.

Faced with a flood of work offers following her resurgence, Qu did not rush to seize the opportunity.

Instead, she said that she doesn't want to work too much.

"I still want to follow my own rhythm," she said.

During her time away from the public eye, her ideal daily rhythm involved waking up early, playing tennis, occasionally hitting the gym for strength training and going to bed before 11 pm.

"I just want to do things I love," she said.

Recently, the second edition of the Lun Lun Cup tennis tournament was held on the clay courts of the National Tennis Center in Beijing, bringing together celebrity tennis enthusiasts, such as singer Mao Ning, TV variety show host Zhu Dan and figure skater Sui Wenjing, to compete with amateur players.

"When I organized the first Lun Lun Cup last year, it was purely to satisfy my love for tennis and to make new friends. It's wonderful to see my friends having so much fun," Qu recalled.

"Our goal was never to pursue professional level competition, but to ensure that every participant had a great time," she said.

"I've gained so much from learning to play tennis, whether it's physical health or a deeper understanding of sports. I've benefited immensely," said Qu.

On Dec 16, 2024, she won her first 2.5-level singles title in a Tennis 123-ranked tournament, and, to date, she has earned four championships across singles and doubles events.

The Tennis 123 competition format does not distinguish by age or gender, but instead groups players solely according to their competitive skill level.

"Qu Ying's tennis journey mirrors that of every amateur tennis enthusiast, relying on hard work and passion to gradually reach the amateur 3.0 level," explained Wang.

"Many of our female players are afraid to compete against men, but she never hesitates.

"Her singles ability, physical strength, willpower and the excitement she shows during key points are, I think, qualities that only an outstanding tennis lover possesses."

Thanks to her recent surge in popularity, the second Lun Lun Cup has drawn far more widespread attention than the first.

"I hope that, through tennis, people can make more friends and experience the joy this sport brings. If I can play a role in promoting tennis and making it more accessible, I think that would be very meaningful," Qu said.

"Qu started competing in her 50s, progressing from a 1.5-level player to the top 3.0 level," said Ma Jun, a Beijing native who participated in both editions of the Lun Lun Cup.

"Her journey should serve as an inspiration to everyone. It's never too late to start a sport and dedicate time to what you love.

"The Lun Lun Cup feels like a big party to me," she added.

Ma, in her 30s, was the doubles champion at the first edition and has also found a better life rhythm through her love of tennis.

Once a PhD student in microbiology, she used to lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Her first job after earning her doctorate often left her feeling disappointed when things did not meet her expectations.

In 2019, influenced by her friends, she started playing tennis after work and quickly fell in love with it.

She found that every time she struck the ball, it gave her instant feedback, whether through speed, landing point or sound, allowing her to judge if the shot was good or bad.

"At work, or in relationships, you often put in a lot of effort without receiving timely feedback," she said.

From matches with friends to setting her sights on winning amateur tournament titles, she has become increasingly devoted to tennis.

Meanwhile, the philosophy she has drawn from the sport has continually influenced her life.

"I used to feel very frustrated when my research didn't go well or experiments failed, just like losing a tennis match," explained Ma.

"But, gradually, I realized that playing against a strong opponent is, from another perspective, an opportunity to improve.

"When I changed the way I look at things, my previously stubborn personality opened up."

Her life has also become richer because of the hobby.

Besides playing, she has been able to get closer to her favorite professional players, such as Yuan Yue, through platforms like the China Open, and has even tried her hand at commentating on matches at a local tennis club.

"Tennis has become a window for me to see the outside world," she said.