Denny Bao and Juliet Zhang win titles at Surrey Open tournament

The Surrey Open tennis tournament concluded Sunday at Newton Athletic Park, showcasing both rising stars and local talent in one of the city’s largest annual sports competitions.

In the men’s open category, 19-year-old Denny Bao of Vancouver captured the title with a 6-4, 6-2 win over veteran finalist Henry Ren, who has now reached three consecutive Surrey Open finals. Bao earned the $7,100 top prize, while Ren collected $3,550 as runner-up.

The women’s singles final saw Richmond’s Juliet Zhang, 30, defeat 14-year-old newcomer Lyza Dovopol 6-2, 6-1. Zhang said the win was especially meaningful: “To see such young talent like Lyza competing already is inspiring. This tournament is helping grow tennis in BC.”

Local players also had their share of success. Newton Tennis Club’s Rajdeep Singh edged out Harpreet Bhagtana in a thrilling 3.0 singles final (6-3, 4-6, 10-7). In the 4.5 singles, Ravneet Gill, 28, defeated Surrey Police Service officer Harman Gosal, 29, with a 7-6, 6-4 victory.

Organizer Pavan Sahni told Connect FM the event drew strong participation: “The Surrey Open is about more than titles — it’s about giving local players a stage. Every year we see more registrations, and the community really comes out to support.”

Spectators at the finals said they appreciated the chance to see both international-level talent and homegrown players on the same courts. One Delta resident said: “This shows Surrey is not just a soccer or cricket city — tennis is becoming part of our sports culture too.”

The Surrey Open, with prize money of $45,000 across divisions, is now regarded as one of BC’s top community tournaments and a stepping stone for young players eyeing national rankings.

Sources: On-site reporting by Connect FM News; interviews with players, organizers, and spectators.