‘No pressure’ as Chinese trailblazer Zhang Zhizhen makes French Open last 32
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China's Zhang Zhizhen was one of three Chinese men in the main draw in Paris this year, and is now the last one standing.
PHOTO: AFP
PARIS – Chinese tennis saw another milestone on Thursday as Zhang Zhizhen broke into the men’s singles third round at the French Open for the first time, while his compatriot Wang Xinyu also booked a ticket in the women’s last 32.
Zhang, 26, claimed a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-4 win over Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante to become the first Chinese man since Kho Sin-Kie in 1937 to reach the round of 32 at the clay-court Grand Slam.
“It was a big victory for myself, especially in a Grand Slam,” he said. “Here I’m trying to show my best... show everything I have and try to compete with those guys. That’s the reason I’m here. It’s no pressure for me.”
Zhang has racked up an impressive series of firsts in his career.
At the Madrid Open in May, he became the first Chinese player to reach the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 event before achieving a career-high ranking of 69.
At Wimbledon in 2021, he was the first Chinese man to compete in the main draw in the Open era.
Zhang was also the first male player from China to have participated in the main draw in all four Grand Slams, with his previous three ending with first-round exits.
At this edition of Roland Garros, he was one of three Chinese men in the main draw but both Wu Yibing and qualifier Shang Juncheng fell in the opening round.
“I don’t want to celebrate a lot after the first, or the second round, so you can see that I’m calm after winning,” Zhang added.
“It’s not a semi-final or the final, so I don’t want to go too crazy.”
Next for the world No. 71 is the 2022 runner-up and fourth seed, Casper Ruud of Norway, who overcame Italian Giulio Zeppieri 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
“I have nothing to lose against a player like him, and it will be a game at one of the central courts,” he said.
“It is a privilege to play in the central court in a Grand Slam, I just plan to enjoy it.”
Wang defeated Rebecca Peterson of Sweden 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, reaching the French Open third round for the first time in her career.
The 21-year-old and world No. 80 came to Paris after losing all her previous four first-round matches on clay.
“I just told myself that I could do it, then it happened,” said Wang, who had reached the second round at the Australian Open twice but had never won a singles main-draw match at other Slams before this tournament.
Next up for Wang is world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who defeated American Claire Liu 6-4, 6-0. AFP,
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