Zhang Zhizhen, first Chinese man to qualify for Wimbledon in Open era

Zhang Zhizhen becomes the first Chinese man to qualify for Wimbledon in the Open era to play in the main draw at Wimbledon next week after the world number 178 booked his place by defeating Argentine Francisco Cerundolo by 6-0, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(6) in the qualifiers on Thursday. The 24-year-old is only the fourth Chinese man to play singles in the main draw of a Grand Slam since the Open era began in 1968.

Before Zhang Zhizhen, the three Chinese man who has played at the Australian Open are Wu Di in 2013, 2014 and 2016, Zhang Ze in 2014 and 2015, and Li Zhe in 2019. Wimbledon, the only Grand Slam to be cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will return in its usual slot this year with the main draw starting on June 28.

Zhang did not lose a set in his first two qualifying matches, and he got off to a quick start against Cerundolo, losing just three games in the first two sets. the two-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist had to dig deep in the fourth-set tie-break to triumph after two hours and 20 minutes. the 21-year-old,  Zhizhen is the number 1 Chinese player in the FedEx ATP rankings at World number 178. Last year, he had reached a career-high world number 136.