On Wednesday night, Zhang Zhizhen became the first Chinese man to defeat a player ranked in the top five of the ATP rankings, eliminating Casper Ruud, the 2022 US Open runner-up.
Zhang defeated the No. 5 seed 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 to go to the third round of a Grand Slam competition at the US Open in 2023.
After losing his first four five-setters to begin this event, it was his second five-set triumph. When Zhang qualified for Wimbledon’s main draw in 2021, he became the first Chinese man to accomplish so in the professional era.
He qualified for the US Open last year, joining Wu Yibing as the first male representatives of their nation to enter the main draw of the year’s last Grand Slam competition.
At the French Open in June, the 26-year-old Zhang advanced to the third round before losing to Ruud, who had advanced to the finals in three of the previous six Grand Slam competitions.