Knocking on the door to become China’s first man to crack the top 50, Zhang Zhizhen is already a marketer’s dream on home soil.
One need only look at the towering and gifted athlete’s off-court recognition in the past year to realise how much his profile has soared.
China has long craved a men’s tennis player capable of climbing remotely near the heights of former world No.2 Li Na – a two-time Grand Slam champion, including at Australian Open 2014.
Zhang, affectionately nicknamed ZZZ, has already earned a taste of the stardom his more decorated countrywoman have experienced on home soil.
“Last year, I didn't really think about this. (I was) just trying to play my best tennis, then try to make better result. Then people knows me, that's extra things,” Zhang said.
“I want to play good tennis, then to improve my ranking, then the people knows me, which is good. I want to make, like, to show everyone I can be there, also (that I) can be there for the young generation.”
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At 27 years old, Zhang not an overnight sensation.
He made modest inroads until late 2022, when he became the first man from his nation to enter the top 100.
What followed was a career-best season in 2023, which included a string of firsts among Chinese men – an ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal, a top-five victory over Casper Ruud at the US Open and a fourth-round run at his home Masters event.
In July, he passed his compatriot, 24-year-old Wu Yibing, when he reached world No.52 to become the highest-ranked Chinese man in history.
“I had a couple matches I could have won and even higher to pass top 50, which the goal is going to be,” Zhang said. “I (hope it) is coming soon, but my goal is even higher.
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“In that moment I was still very (much) enjoying that moment because it is making the history. I also wanted to make more history and then to bring (that)… higher ranking and start to play in the China season because China fans, they are waiting all the time. So, I would like to bring all the best to them.”
There was no shortage of opportunities for Chinese fans to catch a glimpse of the Shanghai native in 2023.
Zhang was given a rockstar reception during an on-court presentation alongside former Australian Open champion Li when the pair helped honour Roger Federer, his idol no less, at last season’s Shanghai Masters.
The city at the time raised roadside banners advertising milk cartons with his face splashed across them, while he later rubbed shoulders with celebrities as a guest of a Vogue Forces of Fashion event.
“It just a little bit embarrassing. If we're in the same elevator, there's a picture (of me) with someone else. The picture over there is feeling weird,” Zhang said.
Zhang opened the new season at the United Cup with a three-set victory over rising Czech Jiri Lechecka before helping China to a 3-0 sweep alongside world No.15 Zheng Qinwen.
It was a precursor to his first showdown with world No.1 Novak Djokovic, which he lost 6-3 6-2.
“I mean, I never play those good players. Ruud was No.5 in that moment. But No.1, it's a bit different,” Zhang said. “Even second time if you give me one more chance to play, at the moment I couldn't give you answer how to play.
“I still need… time, few years, to catch this level, maybe which I cannot. It's very good, very high level.”
While humbled, Zhang relished the experience of taking it to the world’s best.
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Djokovic, whose nine titles in China make up more than a tenth of his career haul, has witnessed firsthand the rise of the sport in the world’s second most populous nation.
“The Chinese tennis, particularly on the women's side, is so strong over the years with Na Li winning first Grand Slam for Chinese tennis, which opened a lot of doors for young girls to play,” the Serbian said.
“It's really nice, as a tennis player, seeing how popular tennis is in China, and I think (Zhang) now is probably the most successful Chinese male player of all time. That's great, as well, because we want to see men's tennis in China picking up.”
China’s top-ranked woman, Zheng, has carried the bulk of her nation’s hopes since she picked up WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2022 and last season’s WTA Most Improved Player honours.
A Grand Slam quarterfinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2022, she vowed to break into the top 10 last season and while she fell short of that mark, it was a sign of the standards she set for herself and of which she encouraged her male counterparts to reach.
“I think that’s great experience for us, both men and women in China, we are pushing China to be better and better, because I always believe in China that men's tennis can be much better than what we are doing now,” Zheng said.
“I wish right now they shouldn't get relaxed. They have to push themselves more, because I really believe we can reach higher target… even (though) I know (they) have already done a great job last year.”
Zheng is proving a yardstick for Zhang.
“I'm happy to catch them (the Chinese women). Even so far away, but I’m still trying to catch them, which is pretty tough, a long way to go. (Zheng) Qin is also in front of me,” he said.
“Yeah, I mean, why not? Why not to be the best?”
Before US Open 2022 no Chinese man had even won a match at a major in the Open era.
Wu became the first at Flushing Meadows that season when he reached the third round before his defeat to defending champion Daniil Medvedev.
Four months later, 17-year-old countryman Jerry Shang qualified for the Australian Open to become the youngest player in the men’s draw.
With Wu and Shang already in the field it marked the first time three Chinese men contested a Grand Slam.
While Shang became the second Chinese man to win a round at a major, Zhang was in the midst of a slow start to the season in which he won just one of his first seven matches before it all began to click.
“I think (I need to) keep my same level and… improve, like, everything, and be patient,” Zhang said. “Because last year, like second part of the year, was quite successful for me.
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“Normally beginning of the year, always problem, is always some issue to me, because (I was) always losing quite a lot of matches and couldn't win a match and couldn't find a feeling on court.
“I have three months (now that I) can improve my (ranking) points a lot, so is a big chance. Then try to be patient and try to be whole year at the same level.”
It is a golden opportunity to break further ground for his country.