SHANGHAI, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- 28-year-old Chinese tennis player Zhang Zhizhen made a historic breakthrough for China by taking a silver medal together with partner Wang Xinyu in mixed doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua during the ATP Shanghai Masters, Zhang dedicated the success to the result of generations of Chinese tennis players' hard work and persistence. Meanwhile, he expressed high expectations of the future of Chinese tennis.
According to Zhang, passion was his original motivation to start a professional career. Zhang's father was a defender for the Shanghai Shenhua football cLub. When he was a child, his father gave him three life choices: to study hard, practice swimming or play tennis. "Tennis makes me happy, so I chose tennis," Zhang said.
In 2011, 14-year-old Zhang participated in a junior tennis tournament in Haikou, Hainan Province. His opponent was 15-year-old Cameron Norrie, who defeated Zhang 6-2, 6-0. 12 years later, Zhang reached the fourth round at the ATP Madrid Masters, beating Norrie 2-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(2).
"Tennis is a path of no return," Zhang once joked. "From the age of 10 to the present, I have too many choices to make, and it is not just one thing to do right. If I had to go through everything again, I wouldn't be that accurate. I had very good coaches who guided me on the right path and I was very lucky to have made all the right choices to get to where I am today, and that's the key to success," he said.
"I didn't deliberately pursue a specific result," Zhang added. "This allows me to focus more on tennis itself and enjoy the process of each match."
Since clinching silver at Paris 2024, Zhang has encountered some twists and turns. At the China Open, Zhang lost to Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round. At the ATP Shanghai Masters, Zhang played in both men's singles and doubles, and was again stopped in the first round.
"Tennis matches are packed and it's common to win or lose," said Zhang. "I may do well today, but tomorrow may be different. Anything can happen."
"I want to win some matches in front of the audience in my hometown, but it is still very difficult, because every player in the Shanghai Masters is very strong," Zhang added.
Summarizing the whole season, Zhang said he was satisfied with his performance. "There are breakthroughs in some respects, but there are also regrets. If I can play again, I feel that I have the chance to win some matches."
Being the highest-ranked Chinese male tennis player, Zhang always stays modest. "I have only been in a good state this season, but there may be changes in the future. I look forward to the possible competition," Zhang said.
"I can't always be No. 1 in China. I will try to keep my current position and enhance my level at the same time. I encourage the younger generation to surpass me, which is the best thing for Chinese tennis," Zhang added.
For more and more teenagers who choose to play tennis, Zhang also offered his advice. "Teenagers can try tennis as their hobby, but I would not suggest them to blindly turn professional. Athletes have to be physically and mentally healthy, and work hard year after year. There is a long way to go to be a professional, which requires both talent and motivation," Zhang said.
Zhang is excited to see Chinese men's tennis flourish as more rising stars have surged. "Now everyone knows how to train and compete, and everyone is getting better. Thanks to the path that the older generation has explored, we know better how to improve ourselves and create history," said Zhang. ■