From Melbourne to Flushing Meadows, a trio of rising tennis stars has recorded a number of firsts for China over the past 12 months, pointing to a brighter future for male players as they seek to emulate the success enjoyed by Chinese women. Zhang Zhizhen, the eldest of the three, has set another milestone at Roland Garros, ending his country’s 86-year wait for a male singles win on the Paris clay.
Hemmed in between the French Open’s two showpiece arenas, Court No. 8 ranks among the smallest of the 18 clay courts at Roland Garros. On a sweltering Tuesday afternoon, the 350-seater venue was also among the loudest – courtesy of a smattering of flag-waving Chinese fans who tried their best to push Li Zheng, the world number 40, during her opening-round defeat.
