Early Season Revival Player Review: Chinese Team Starts Strong, "Messi" Duo Both Claim Victories!

The United Cup, Hong Kong, and Brisbane Tennis Opens are progressing vigorously, and compared to last season, Chinese players appear to be accelerating their efforts and performing well this season.

Last season, the Chinese team, led by Zheng Qinwen and Zhang Zhizhen, was heavily affected by injuries and couldn’t repeat the extraordinary achievements of the season before last, leading to a significant drop in overall results.

This season, although former top player Zhang Zhizhen won one match at the United Cup, it was expected that he would lose against a top-ten player like Alcaraz. However, he showed no signs of disappointment and faced the challenge with a smile, eager to compete in the new season.

In today’s round of 16 at the Hong Kong Open, local wildcard entrant Huang Zelin defeated Canadian ace Diallo, reaching the tour quarterfinals for the first time. In earlier matches, he had already beaten Argentine Navone in straight sets.

His form is indeed sizzling hot.

Shang Juncheng, who won China’s second men’s tour title in the season before last, also entered the Hong Kong Open with a wildcard. He secured a strong start by defeating Komesa with two 6-4 sets in the first round.

As for Wu Yibing, who also entered as a wildcard and showed promising signs of recovery at the end of last season during the Asian Games, he naturally carried that momentum into this season. Similarly, notable player Wang Youqianyu has also performed well in early season events.

Among foreign players, several have also started strong. Leading the pack is two-time Masters champion Hurkacz, who returned after a seven-month injury hiatus firing on all cylinders. Representing Poland again at the United Cup, he unleashed over 20 aces against Zverev in his first match, handing his opponent a defeat both in score and morale. In the second round against Italy’s third-ranked player Copil, he maintained his high level, nearly replicating his first match’s performance. Such fierce form raises the question: can he make up for the past disappointment when Poland finished runner-up due to his absence?

Then there’s “Mei,” who at the Brisbane Open defeated Tiafoe—whose ranking has slipped but still remains strong—in straight sets, advancing to his 90th career tour quarterfinal. This is an impressive feat among players born in the 1990s. Having already ended his title drought last season, can he kick off this season with another strong start? After all, he has never won this particular event!

Additionally, today’s victory of Tsitsipas over Fritz is noteworthy. The Greek last beat a top-ten player in the season before last and didn’t even face any top-ten opponents last season!

Messi’s simultaneous comeback? Could this unimaginable duo storyline unfold this season?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Chengqiya)