Chinese Sensation Zhizhen Zhang Plays Down ‘Million Histories’ to Detail an ‘Empty’ Reality Amid His Shanghai Masters Heroics

Making and breaking records is an ordinary affair in sports. The Chinese star, Zhang Zhizhen in a recent podcast by ATP Tennis Radio cleared the air about his records. His reaction to his introduction became the highlight of the podcast. Zhang is currently smashing balls at the Shanghai Masters. What could be his intentions while making the statement about his hyped-up profile?

Zhang in the podcast sheds light on China’s history with tennis. He has been catching the space in headlines a lot often these days. When he was asked about it, Zhang gave an honest answer covering the entirety of the situation.

Zhang Zhizhen is virtuous about making records

While the rest of the world is busy celebrating Zhang for his record-making skills, he seems unbothered by the fact. Zhang in the past year has brought multiple records to his name. However, when asked about the same his reaction was a bit unexpected. He said:

“We have many small details. Yeah, we have a little bit others. Others result? What is the other result? First French Open blah, blah, blah. We’ve had too many scenes because we it was empty. It was nothing. Nothing like in front of us. So one step is like one history. One step is one history. So it’s too many. I mean, even me. Yeah. Because there’s a million histories about us. It is very cool. Yeah.”

In a matter of a few seconds, Zhang put forth the reality in front of the whole world. He started by talking about how he has a few records to hold on to here and there. When asked what were some of the other records he was referring to, his response was filled with a bit of dissatisfaction.

He mentioned his win at the French Open which also involves a ton of scrutiny. Zhang became the first-ever Chinese in 86 years to win a match at the French Open. Although he was ahead of the match against Dusan Lajovic, with scores of 6-1 and 4-1, there is a minor detail worth talking about. Lajovic had to forfeit the match in the second round because of his injuries.

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Zhang explained how mere his achievements are when compared to the vast horizons of tennis. Everything he does turns into a record or a historical moment because China didn’t have anyone else in the tennis scene before him to take things further.

Zhang’s records until now

Focusing only on just 3 events, Zhang has made history in every single one of them. During his trip to the US Open, Zhang became the first ever Chinese man to defeat a player ranked in the top 5. He defeated Casper Rudd by 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 0-6, and 6-2 spanning over 5 sets in total. During the Madrid Open, he pulled a similar stunt as he became the first ever from China to reach the event’s quarter-finals. To achieve this feat, Zhang had to defeat the World’s No.8 Taylor Fritz with scores of 3-6, 7⁷-6⁵, and 7¹⁰-6⁸.

Finally, at the Shanghai Masters, Zhang Zhizhen managed to reach the fourth round of the tour, also the first ever in China’s history. Zhang with all his might, defeated the American, Brandon Nakashima by 7⁷-6² and 6-2. Zhang with every improvement seems to be creating a new milestone. 

As much as Zhang deserves credit for all his achievements and records, he acknowledges that most of it is due to the lack of activity by China in the tennis circuit. Zhang is aware enough to realize that he still has a long way to go to really make a difference.

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