Serving up ace entertainment

With homegrown stars shining brightly in its highly anticipated return, the new and improved Rolex Shanghai Masters is delivering a real treat for fans.

From the sold-out stands of poster-waving spectators to the bustling scenes around the training courts, where fans crane to a glimpse of their beloved stars, the surging popularity of tennis in Shanghai is everywhere to see at Qizhong Tennis Center.

With more and more urbanites picking up rackets these days, tennis is most definitely in vogue in the famously fashion-conscious city, and the return of the ATP 1000 tournament following a four-year gap due to the pandemic has tapped into that wave of enthusiasm.

Back with an expanded 14-day schedule, including qualifying rounds, the Masters has not disappointed so far, with two Chinese players passing the opening round for the first time on Wednesday to add to the excitement.

Fresh from his Asian Games title run in Hangzhou last week, Chinese No 1 Zhang Zhizhen extended his win streak by blasting past French veteran Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-2 to claim his first victory at his home Masters tournament.

Zhang, who made his Shanghai main-draw debut in 2019 but lost to Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets, is now an altogether more formidable proposition, both physically and mentally, after achieving a string of milestones for Chinese men's tennis over the past 12 months.

With his posters hung up everywhere at the tennis center in Shanghai's southern suburbs and fans swarming to his every practice session, Zhang, the current world No 60, admitted that he feels flattered to be treated like a "superstar "in his home city.

"The last time I saw so many fans at my practice here was when I was practicing with (Roger) Federer as his sparring partner in 2019," Zhang said.

"I was extremely nervous before the match, but once I stepped on the court I just started to focus on playing each point and the tension went away. I am so excited to finally walk off the court in front of my home fans with a win for the first time.

"I was nervous because I knew there were eyes on me. The crowd here expect me to deliver, which is kind of part of the game. I will just try to live with it and enjoy it and use it as a push," said Zhang, who in July rose to a career-best ranking of No 52, the highest spot ever reached by a Chinese man.

As the first Chinese mainland player to crack the ATP's top 100 in October 2022, Zhang made more history in April by becoming the first Chinese to reach the quarterfinals of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, in Madrid. He followed that up with his first ATP 500 semifinal berth in Hamburg, Germany in July, and his first win against a top-10 opponent after stunning fifth-ranked Casper Ruud in the second round of the US Open in August.

His breakthrough in Shanghai keeps his remarkable 2023 campaign going full steam ahead to set up a second-round clash against world No 31 Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina on Friday.

"My goal is to try to reach the second week here in Shanghai. But I will also focus on my next opponent and take one match at a time," said Zhang, who beat Japan's Yosuke Watanuki in straight sets on Saturday in Hangzhou to earn China's first Asiad tennis title since 1994, when Pan Bing triumphed.

Joining Zhang in the second round was 21-year-old Buyunchaokete, who advanced when his opponent Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia had to retire due to illness. Buyunchaokete was leading 6-7 (6), 6-2,2-1 at the time.

After making the second round in his ATP Tour debut at a top-flight event on home court, Buyunchaokete had plenty to celebrate but instead kept his emotions in check and spared a thought for his ailing opponent.

"Of course I feel happy I won, but when we shook hands he told me he was sick and I related to that right away," said the world No 186, who overcame a two-month illness this summer to return just in time for the Shanghai showcase.

"I knew how hard it was to try to hang in there not being 100 percent physically. I am OK now and I hope he will get better soon," he said.

Hailing from the Mongolian ethnic group in Northwest China, Buyunchaokete, better known as "Little Bu" to fans, is among a group of emerging Chinese talents, including Wu Yibing and Shang Juncheng, who have benefited from a mix of disciplined training at home and Western coaching overseas.

Based out of Alicante, Spain, where he trains at the Ferrero Tennis Academy, Bu became just the third Chinese man to win an entry-level ATP Challenger title aged 21 or younger when he lifted the trophy in Seoul in April, following in the footsteps of Wu (2017) and Shang (2022), both at 17.

With the hype around Chinese tennis gaining momentum in Shanghai this week, Bu shrugs off the growing expectations while also embracing the exposure as an opportunity to inspire the next generation.

"After trying for years, we've all developed at our own pace. Maybe I didn't shine as early as Zhang or Wu or Shang. We have different talents and we took different paths. I hope also to encourage young kids, in my own way, by doing the best I can," said Bu.

Up next for Bu is world No 26 Sebastian Korda of the United States. A victory on Friday for the Chinese will further boost his qualification hopes for the season-ending Next Gen ATP Finals, which feature the world's top eight under-21 players.

As the biggest men's pro tournament in Asia, the Rolex Shanghai Masters was voted the ATP Masters Tournament of the Year from 2009-13 by the players. Its upgrade this year, with an expanded 96-player singles draw and a two-week schedule, has elevated it to "Super Masters" status, a classification previously only enjoyed by the "Sunshine Double" at Indian Wells and Miami in the US.

Shanghai organizers have also renovated Qizhong Tennis Center by expanding the players' area and refurbishing the gym and locker rooms, while more grassroots promotions and interactive activities have enhanced the fan experience.