It might be too soon to call it a rivalry. But China's Zhizhen Zhang, who Friday appears in his first ATP World Tour quarter-final in Shenzhen, already has one eye on his countryman and fellow young talent Yibing Wu. At 17 years old, Wu clinched the 2017 US Open boys’ singles and doubles titles in September. A week later, he claimed Shanghai’s Challenger title. Zhang is fully aware of Wu's recent string of success, but his familiarity with his fellow Chinese hopeful goes back further than that. The two met recently at the 2017 National Games of China, a competition held every four years in which athletes from their provincial teams meet in their respective sports for medals. "[Yibing] is...
Zhizhen Zhang began his week with one career ATP World Tour victory. But after the 20 year old’s stunning 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) upset over fourth-seeded Paolo Lorenzi, the Chinese qualifier is into his first tour-level quarter-final at the Shenzhen Open. "I feel very excited," Zhang said. "I just wished tonight I can survive and I will be ready for the next one." Zhang was up 3-1 in the deciding set when he lost three games in a row, and then faced two break points, which would have allowed the No. 2 Italian to serve for the match. But once Zhang was able to hold, both players managed their service games well until the tie-break. Under the greatest pressure of his...
