
Australian tennis star Li Tu claimed his maiden ATP Challenger tour title in Seoul, Korea over the weekend.
It was a title he dedicated to his late mother who he lost to cancer in late September.
The Australian surged over 100 places in the world ranking with the title, beating the likes of fellow Aussies Christopher OâConnell and James Duckworth along the way.Â
It was the culmination of an emotional past few months, a journey that Tu opened up about on social media.
He revealed that he only continued training for the tournament after his mother had convinced him that she was âgetting betterâ.
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Tu heartbreakingly travelled to Korea the day after her funeral.Â
He had delivered an emotional eulogy before flying out the next morning.Â
He wrote on social media: âToday is your birthday Mum.Â
âIt has been the toughest 2 months of my life.Â
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âWatching you battle cancer, struggle and fight every day as you slowly lost your senses.
âContinuing tennis training because you were relentless that I must keep going and you are âgetting betterâ.Â
âBeing by your side as you took your last breath on 24/09/22 surrounded by our family who love you so much.â
Tu revealed that his mother had told him sheâd be in Seoul with him for the tournament, just days before she passed.
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He continued: âA few days before you passed, you said to me âIâll see you in Koreaâ and I broke down in tears.Â
âComing over to Korea the day after your funeral, I wasnât sure I could do it but before every match,Â
âI looked up at the sky and I couldnât help but smile when I saw you.â
He signed off the post with an incredibly heart-wrenching message.
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Adding: âWe did it Mum.â
The likes of Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Mark Mark Philippoussis, Rennae Stubbs and Daria and Luke Saville sent their love to Tu in replying to the post.Â
The 26-year-old defeated Chinaâs Wu Yibing in the final of the Challengerâs Cup before dropping to the court and kissing his wrist.
He told The First Serve: âTo be able to do it the day before her birthday was just incredibly, incredibly special.
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âOne of the best memories Iâve had.â