Giant-killer Zhang wows New York

China's superb week at the US Open continued on Wednesday as Zhang Zhizhen's sensational upset of Casper Ruud headlined a hat-trick of victories for Chinese players.

Zhang, ranked 67th in the world, made history by becoming the first Chinese man to beat a top-five player, producing the match of his life to defeat last year's runner-up 6-4, 5-7,6-2, 0-6, 6-2 in 3 hours and 19 minutes under the lights in the Grandstand.

Earlier, Zhu Lin produced a major shock in the women's draw to stun two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka, the 18th seed of Belarus, 6-3, 6-3, while Wang Xinyu's 5-7,6-3, 6-4 triumph over Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain ensured China will have at least two women in the third round.

Zhang's epic battle with Ruud, though, was undoubtedly the match of the day as the Chinese ace avenged a four-set loss to the Norwegian at this year's French Open.

It was Zhang's second straight five-set victory after seeing off American JJ Wolf in another epic encounter on Monday. Prior to Monday's triumph, the 26-year-old had never won in five sets at a Grand Slam.

"Try to just keep playing and keep believing yourself every single time," Zhang said. "Even in tough moments, still try to believe in yourself. In the end, you'll make it."

"I believed in myself. If not, the fifth set was going to be a different result. I mean, I was little bit tired for few days already. I had some whatever, some sort of pain, whatever. I don't spend so much energy. I tried to be calm for the whole match.

"At the end of the match, finished the last point, I didn't really celebrate like, not super happy. But I was happy inside, it just didn't show."

A relatively late bloomer in the pro ranks, Zhang and his younger compatriot Wu Yibing have spearheaded the recent surge of Chinese men's tennis.

Zhang became the first Chinese mainland player to crack the world's top 100 in October last year and the first to reach the quarterfinals of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, at this year's Madrid Open.

Now Zhang is on the verge of cracking the top 50 and will bid to make more history by becoming the first male Chinese mainland player to reach the last 16 of a major when he faces Rinky Hijikata in the third round on Friday.

Hijikata, a 22-year-old Australian ranked No 110, thrashed Hungary's Marton Fucsovics 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 on Wednesday.

Zhang's epic passage to the third round was not so serene, with Ruud losing his cool in a seesaw encounter.

After Ruud had tied the match at two sets apiece with a 6-0 fourth set, Zhang left the court for several minutes to take a toilet break and change clothes in a move that appeared to disrupt the world No 5's momentum.

Ruud was broken immediately in the first game of the final set, and he complained angrily at the chair umpire, accusing him of failing to enforce time limits.

"Why don't you do anything?" Ruud yelled. "You follow the rules clearly some times then other times you don't give a s***. Why don't you do anything?"

With Ruud rattled, Zhang rammed home his advantage, producing a brilliant backhand volley on match point to take the final set 6-2.

Afterward, Ruud heaped praise on his opponent, saying: "He has a great serve, beautiful backhand, and forehand, also. When it's on, it's on and really dangerous... he's going to be a threat for many years."

Zhu believer

Earlier, Zhu gained revenge for her Australian Open defeat to Azarenka in January when she lost a three-set battle. This time around Zhu cruised through in straight sets.

"I am still processing everything, but it is amazing. I am happy to have revenge this time," a smiling Zhu said in her post-match on-court interview.

Zhu is enjoying her best season on the tour to date, breaking into the world's top 50 (currently No 44) for the first time, reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open, winning her first career singles title at the Thailand Open and beating world No 7 Caroline Garcia en route to making the Cleveland semifinals last week.

"The key is to keep pushing forward," said the 29-year-old. "I am feeling pretty good, and hopefully I can stay a bit longer."

She next faces 15th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, the reigning Olympic champion and a semifinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2019.

"Hard courts are my favorite surface. Let's see what happens," Zhu said.

Wang Xinyu should also fancy her chances of reaching the fourth round. The world No 25 next faces Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia, who is ranked 64th. Schmiedlova saw off Rebeka Masarova of Spain on Wednesday, 7-6 (0), 6-2.

Djokovic cruises

Novak Djokovic sailed into the third round in his quest for a 24th Grand Slam triumph as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff stayed on a quarterfinal collision course.

Djokovic climbed through the gears against 76th-ranked Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain, winning 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"At 36 years of age, after 20 years of coming to New York, I still have the hunger to play my best tennis on this court," said Djokovic, a three-time US Open champion.

Next up for the Serbian star is compatriot and 32nd seed Laslo Djere.

Women's defending champion and world No 1 Swiatek swept past Australia's Daria Saville 6-3, 6-4.

The Pole is bidding to become the first woman to successfully defend her US Open crown since Serena Williams won a hat-trick of titles from 2012-2014.

Gauff, 19, brushed aside 16-year-old Russian phenom Mirra Andreeva, 6-3, 6-2, to continue her strong run on hard courts this summer after titles in Washington and Cincinnati.

Ruud's exit left just two other top-10 seeds in Djokovic's half of the draw after Stefanos Tsitsipas' US Open misery continued.

The Greek crashed out to 128th-ranked Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-3, and has still not gone beyond round three in six visits to New York.

Two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniacki prolonged her US Open comeback by bundling out 11th seed Petra Kvitova 7-5, 7-6 (5) — her first win over a top-20 player since the 2018 WTA Tour Finals.

"If you'd asked me three years ago I'd have said I'll never be back here playing on this court," said mother-of-two Wozniacki, playing her first Grand Slam since the 2020 Australian Open.

"But to be back and to beat the world No 11 feels very, very special."

China Daily / Agencies