By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday October 8, 2023
It has been a banner 12 months for Chinese language males’s tennis, with Wu Yibing setting the tone for the Chinese language males by changing into the primary man from China to say an ATP title in Dallas.
With Wu shut down for the season, Zhang Zhizhen, one other Chinese language pioneer, is main the way in which now.
Earlier this season Zhang turn out to be the primary Chinese language man to succeed in a Masters 1000 quarterfinal in Madrid, and he’s closing in on that achievement once more this week in Shanghai.
On the first staging of China’s Masters 1000 occasion since 2019, the nation lastly finds itself with a homegrown participant they’ll cheer for. The Shanghai native defeated Brandon Nakashima for a spot within the spherical of 16 on Sunday evening to turn out to be the primary Chinese language man to succeed in the spherical of 16 in Shanghai, and he’ll face Sixteenth-seeded Hurkacz for a spot within the quarterfinals subsequent.
Triple Z the hometown HERO ❤️
Zhang is thru to the #RolexShanghaiMasters spherical of 16 with a 7-6 6-2 win over Nakashima! 👏pic.twitter.com/WrYPjSNYk7
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 8, 2023
With yet one more win, he might make his High-50 debut, thereby changing into the primary Chinese language man to realize the feat.
“I all the time needed to play good tennis in entrance of my hometown and my household, and eventually this time I did. Hopefully, I can maintain going,” Zhang instructed reporters on Sunday.
The present World No.60 was the primary Chinese language man to ever crack the High 100, and he’s angling for a High-50 debut sooner or later, along with his earlier rating excessive of 52 achieved in July.
Beneath is an inventory of Zhang’s achievements, from yesterday’s ATP media notes:
- Grew to become the primary Chinese language participant in Pepperstone ATP Rankings historical past to interrupt into High 100 in October 2022 earlier than attaining career-high No. 52 in July 2023 and reached his 1st ATP Tour SF at Hamburg later that month.
- Gained 3 consecutive matches within the ultimate set tie-break to turn out to be the primary Chinese language participant in ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final at 2023 Madrid.
- Certified at 2021 Wimbledon, changing into 1st Chinese language man to compete in primary draw of that occasion in Open Period.
- Grew to become 1st Chinese language man to defeat a High-5 opponent, beating No. 5 Ruud en path to 2023 US Open 3R.
- Additionally certified at 2022 US Open, becoming a member of fellow qualifier Wu as 1st Chinese language males to compete in primary draw of that occasion in Open Period.
- Superior to ATP Tour QFs at 2017 Shenzhen as Q, 2022 Naples as qualifier and 2023 Eastbourne to turn out to be the primary Chinese language participant in Open Period to succeed in ATP Tour QF on all three surfaces.
Zhang, who has file 18 wins in 2023 (18-15 total). Had solely 11 wins to his title previous to this season.
At 6’4” and 192 he’s a strong, athletic baseliner that’s discovering his approach on tour after years of struggling on the challenger circuit.
After watching him stay on the US Open… he’s a type of “ball sounds completely different off his racquet” sorts of fellows within the energy division. https://t.co/KI2RIi7xp5
— Gill Gross 🧋 (@Gill_Gross) October 8, 2023
Zhang, who’s coached by former World No.33 Yen-Hsun Lu, is displaying High-20 potential this season. Together with Wu, aged 23 and ranked 101 (career-high rating 54) and Shang Juncheng (aged 18, rating 156) we are able to anticipate the Chinese language males to be an element on tour from years to come back.
2023 is just the start of the rise of the Chinese language man, and within the years to come back, Zhang, Wu and Shang might be remembered as those who lastly paved the way in which for them to get to the subsequent degree.
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