NEW YORK, August 30 – Zhang Zhizhen of China etched his name in tennis history by becoming the first Chinese man to defeat a top-five opponent since the inception of ATP rankings in 1973. In a gripping U.S. Open second-round clash on Wednesday, Zhang staged a remarkable upset by overcoming last year’s runner-up, Casper Ruud, in a five-set thriller – 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2.
Ranked at 67th in the world, Zhang displayed a tenacious spirit reminiscent of his opening-round match against American J.J. Wolf, where he emerged victorious in another five-set contest. However, against the world number five, Casper Ruud, Zhang exhibited even greater resolve to secure the most significant triumph of his career.
Reflecting on the match, Zhang stated, “Last year at the U.S. Open, I can say it was a bad memory. This year is a little bit different.” This sentiment was rooted in his unfortunate loss to Tim van Rijthoven in the 2022 opener after squandering seven match points.
Despite a blank fourth set against Ruud, Zhang maintained unwavering self-belief, emphasizing, “I believed in myself. If not, the fifth set was going to be a different result. I was a little bit tired for a few days already. I had some sort of pain, whatever. I don’t spend so much energy. I try to be calm for the whole match.”
For Zhang, this victory marks a monumental achievement in his tennis journey. The 26-year-old’s breakthroughs are particularly noteworthy in a landscape where Chinese tennis has predominantly been driven by women. Earlier this year, Zhang created a significant milestone as the first Chinese man in 86 years to win a main draw match at the French Open, following his opponent Dusan Lajovic’s retirement due to illness.
Zhang’s trajectory continued to impress as he secured a victory against Agustin Tirante in the second round of the French Open, only to be eliminated by none other than Casper Ruud. Hence, Wednesday’s triumph stands as a gratifying act of revenge.
Zhang’s groundbreaking achievements extend beyond the Grand Slam stage. In October of last year, he became the first Chinese man to enter the top 100 in the world rankings. His accomplishments also include reaching the quarter-finals of an ATP Masters 1000 event at the Madrid Open earlier this year.
As he approaches the cusp of breaking into the top 50, Zhang expresses enthusiasm for the growing interest in men’s tennis in China. He noted, “More and more people are watching. More people are trying to play tennis. At least in Shanghai, now we get more courts, we have more people to play. Especially in the last year, we broke into the top 100, then Wu Yibing got into the U.S. Open third round. Now even better.”
Zhang Zhizhen’s trailblazing journey serves as a testament to his determination and the widening influence of men’s tennis within China. His historic victory over Casper Ruud at the U.S. Open will undoubtedly reverberate within the tennis community and inspire a new wave of aspirants in his home country.
