By Randy Walker
By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Wu Yibing and Zhizhen Zhang of China both made U.S. Open history on the opening day at the 2022 U.S. Open.
One in brilliant fashion and one in dubious fashion.
Yibing became the first Chinese man in 63 years to win a singles match at any Grand Slam tournament when he upset No. 31 seed Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
Zhang nearly beat his countryman to the punch earlier in the day, but squandered a U.S. Open record seven match points in losing a two-sets-to-love lead in a 3-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (9), 6-1, 6-4 loss to Tim van Tim van Rijthoven.
Wu has had one of the most dramatic rises in ATP history over the last four months when in April he had only one ATP ranking point, as you can read here: https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/21222
Wu is ranked No. 174 and advanced into the main draw by winning three qualifying matches. He is also the first Chinese man to win a match at the U.S. Championships since Cheng Guy in 1935.
“It’s happy and exciting but still more matches to come,” Wu told ATPTour.com
Zhang, ranked No. 137, had seven matches points late in the third set against van Rijthoven, but mishit numerous balls in key moments, including several of his match points. Rogerio Dutra Da Silva of Brazil is the only other player in U.S. Open history to save as many match points when he did so in the first round of the 2013 U.S. Open in his 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (9), 6-2, 7-6 (10).
Zhang still joins Wu as the first two Chinese men to play in the main draw at the U.S. Open (since 1968 when the event was open also to professionals). Along with the fast-rising Jerry Shang, who at 17 years old is ranked No. 202, and Chinese men have their strongest contingent of player in its history. No Chinese man has been ranked in the top 100 of the ATP Rankings, but these three players appear poised to break that milestone soon.
