Small step for Zhang, a giant leap for China

CHINA has long been the sleeping giant of men’s tennis, but on Monday the giant stirred as Shanghai trailblazer Zhang Zhizhen advanced to the second round of the French Open.

One of three Chinese men in the draw, Zhang became the first from the nation to win a main draw match at Roland Garros in 86 years, after Serbian opponent Dusan Lajovic retired due to illness when trailing 6-1 4-1.

Compatriots Shang Juncheng and Wu Yibing bowed out in defeat, but 26-year-old Zhang has a big chance to go further when he takes on Argentine qualifier Thiago Agustin Tirante for a place in the third round.

That would bring him a step closer to the fourth-round mark set by Kho Sin-Kie in 1936. Kho, who was born in colonial-era Indonesia, but represented China in Davis Cup, also reached the third round in 1937.

“Last year … even quallies (qualifiers) I couldn’t get in,” world number 71 Zhang told reporters. “This year I’m enjoying (the) first win here. We have so many (people) waiting for us to get (the) first win.”

In the modern era, Chinese tennis has been dominated by women, with twice Grand Slam champion Li Na becoming the country’s first major winner at Roland Garros in 2011.

The men’s game has been a slower burn, with Wu Di becoming China’s first singles entrant at a Grand Slam main draw in the professional era in 2013, when he lost in the first round of the Australian Open.