Zhang Zhizhen made extra historical past on Sunday when he grew to become the primary Chinese language participant to succeed in the fourth spherical on the Rolex Shanghai Masters within the historical past of the ATP Masters 1000 occasion. The World No. 60 overcame 2022 Subsequent Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima 7-6(2), 6-2.
Competing on house soil, Zhang struck 18 winners and saved the one break level he confronted to advance after one hour and 25 minutes. He additionally clinched seven consecutive factors within the first-set tie-break to guide.
“I didn’t even know I gained seven factors in a row,” Zhang mentioned. “I simply tried to go level by level. It was a really powerful match as a result of I couldn’t discover any likelihood on his serve till the second set. I needed to be affected person and I’m glad I broke him in the long run. I’m fairly completely happy.”
Zhang grew to become the primary ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finalist from China in Could in Madrid and in July rose to No. 52 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, the very best place ever held by anybody from the East Asian nation. He beat Casper Ruud on the US Open to turn out to be the primary Chinese language man to beat a High 5 opponent.
Now into the fourth spherical on the hard-court occasion, the 26-year-old will intention to proceed his historic run when he performs sixteenth seed Hubert Hurkacz. Earlier this week Zhang defeated Richard Gasquet and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
