From Guangzhou to Wuxi, Chinese men's tennis players are improving

Since 2022, Chinese men's tennis players have made a series of breakthroughs in tennis tournaments at all levels, which has led to an increasing number of Chinese fans and more and more businesses to see business opportunities. It is in this context that all levels of tour events have landed in China, and since most of these events are concentrated over a period of time, they are often referred to as the Chinese season by fans.

Two weeks ago, the Challenger China season kicked off in Guangzhou. However, it is a pity that the Chinese men's tennis players only managed to win two matches against foreign players in the qualifying tournament of the Guangzhou Challenger. At the end of the first round of the main event, four Chinese players lost. The only one who could make it to the second round was Cui Jie, who won the compatriot derby. In the second round, facing the American Holt, Cui Jie tried his best, but still lost in two tie-breaks and failed to go further. In this way, the Chinese player only won one victory in the main event. Such data makes people sigh.

Last week, the Wuxi Challenge kicked off. Last season, it was at this event that Mongolian's Buyun Chokert won his second career Challenger title, which boosted his confidence and allowed him to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam in the following months, reaching the semi-finals of the tournament twice.

Although only one Chinese player made it through the qualifying round, it is still gratifying that veteran Li Zhe was able to defeat two Japanese players in a row. In the first round of the main event, Chen Yuren, who played with a wild card, lost to Japanese qualifier Yusuke Takahashi. Wildcard Mongolian player Terrigele lost the first set in a showdown with Russia's Simakin. In the second set, when the two sides were engaged in a fierce exchange and the score was deadlocked, Terigal withdrew from the match due to physical reasons. Another wild card player, Zhou Yi, was reversed in two sets by Japan's Yosuke Mianguan after taking the first game. In all fairness, in these matches, the strength of the opponent and the world ranking are far above the Chinese players, so the defeat can be considered excusable.

Li Zhe fought off his opponent in straight sets against Japanese player Shintaro Imai, who also broke through from the qualifying tournament, and won a wave of three consecutive victories. This is the first time in two weeks that a Chinese men's tennis player has defeated a foreign player in the main draw of the Challenger tournament. With the veteran's encouragement, Sun Fajing and Cui Jie also defeated their respective opponents and reached the second round.

Although he lost to his opponent in the second round against Japan's Rio Noguchi, it was not easy for Li Zhe to win his first victory in the main draw of the 2025 Challenger. Cui Jie defeated Australia's Skulkate in the second round to reach the quarterfinals. Son Fajing defeated French veteran Escofier in two consecutive sets after dropping a set in the unfavorable situation of dropping one set, and also reached the quarterfinals.

In the quarter-finals, despite his best efforts, Cui Jie still lost to Australia's Usain Bolt and failed to go further. Sun Fajing, on the other hand, sent a duck egg to defeat Britain's Peniston, who had won the Challenger Tournament, and entered the semifinals of the Challenger for the first time in his career. In the semi-finals, facing Russia's Simakin, in the unfavorable situation of losing one set first, Sun Fajing fought back, won two sets in a row, and won the reversal, reaching the first challenge final of his career and getting one step closer to the championship.

Sun Fajing's opponent in the final was Australia's Usain Bolt. The player has reached the last 32 of a Grand Slam, but Son is not afraid of his opponent psychologically as he has won in straight sets in the first round of the 2023 Shanghai Masters qualifiers. In this match, Sun Fajing defeated Usain Bolt in straight sets to win the Challenger Championship for the first time in his career. Not only that, but for the first time in the world ranking, he entered the top 200 and qualified for the Wimbledon qualifiers.

From the hard to win against foreign players in the Guangzhou Challenge, to the repeated victories over foreign players in the Wuxi Challenge, and finally won the championship, it shows that Chinese players are improving. I hope that in the coming Chinese season, the Chinese players can perform better, so let's bless them here. That's it for today, and it will continue tomorrow.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Yixin Jushi)