Chinese tennis star Zhang Zhizhen is serving up a career first! 🎉 The 27-year-old battled compatriot Bu Yunchaokete in a nail-biting semifinal at the Hangzhou Open on Monday, securing his debut ATP Tour final spot with a 7-6(3), 6-4 victory.
Despite Bu converting more break points (4-2), Zhang’s clutch performance during the first-set tiebreaker proved decisive. The emotional match ended with a heartwarming net hug 🤗 between the two athletes. 'Bu played better than me today,' Zhang admitted, praising his opponent’s powerful serves.
This court holds special magic for Zhang, who won Asian Games gold here in 2023. 💛 'I’ve never lost here – this place gives me energy,' he told reporters with a grin.
Next up? A showdown with 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic! 🏆 The Croatian star advanced after defeating America’s Brandon Nakashima. Zhang acknowledged the challenge: 'Cilic’s experience and baseline game are next-level. I’ll need smart tactics tomorrow.'
Tune in Tuesday night to see if Zhang can ace his first ATP final! ⏰
