Zhang explains the new tennis 'boom' in China: "We are heading in the right direction"

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China is becoming one of the hotspots of the tennis world. There has always been money, infrastructure, resources, and major tournaments; the issue, of course, was the lack of big stars to convince the public that it is worth getting into tennis. It is now that everything is starting to change, thanks to names like Yibing Wu, Jerry Shang, and, above all, a Zhizhen Zhang who not long ago became the first Chinese top-50 player in history.

After reaching the final of the ATP Hangzhou 2024, Zhizhen now lands in Beijing ready to continue aiding the spread of this sport in his country. It is a lengthy process that requires patience and collective effort, but Zhang is already beginning to see certain situations that make it very clear the shift that the country is undergoing. He expressed this in the press conference prior to his debut in the Chinese tournament, where he will be the main attraction of the second day: first-round in the Central Court, in prime time, against Alejandro Davidovich.

- After losing his first ATP final, it's time to change the mindset in Beijing

"It's the first time I lose a final; I lost the final in Hangzhou, so I could say I'm a bit sad right now. Anyway, it was a great week despite that. In tennis, most of the time, you're going to lose, and your week ends. You don't win every week; there's only one player who wins to finish the tournament. I mean, we know how to handle this, how to let go of those emotions and focus on the next week. My tennis goals are still there; I am mentally prepared for this tournament."

- The current atmosphere and position of tennis in China

"We are in a great moment. Yesterday, for example, I didn't expect to see so many people watching us practice. Both Jerry Shang and I were training, and we saw many people around the courts, which is great because it's a practice and it may not be as fun for people as watching a match. Many people chose to watch the training; that surprised me. We are heading in the right direction."

- Recently becoming a father, do you think about taking your child on the circuit?

"Our baby is still very young, only one month old. We have no intention of making the child travel on the circuit. Maybe we'll consider it in Shanghai, which is next week, as we have several friends coming. For example, we wouldn't take the baby to other tournaments in Europe. It's an option, yes, watching your child grow, and I know some athletes have done it. It's new to me, and I would love to try it, but not yet."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zhang explica el nuevo "boom" del tenis en China: "Vamos en la dirección correcta"