Teenager leads historic Chinese charge at Australian Open

Three male Chinese players including the teenager will compete in Melbourne in the main draw, a first at any Grand Slam since the Open era began in 1968.

Published : Jan 13, 2023 13:22 IST , Melbourne

Chinese tennis player Zhang Zhizhen reacts after winning a point against Britain’s Andy Murray during their match at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne on January 11, 2023. 
Chinese tennis player Zhang Zhizhen reacts after winning a point against Britain’s Andy Murray during their match at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne on January 11, 2023.  | Photo Credit: AP
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Chinese tennis player Zhang Zhizhen reacts after winning a point against Britain’s Andy Murray during their match at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne on January 11, 2023.  | Photo Credit: AP

Gifted 17-year-old Shang Juncheng will lead a historic Chinese charge at the Australian Open next week -- more evidence of the growing strength of tennis in the Asian country.

Three male Chinese players including the teenager will compete in Melbourne in the main draw, a first at any Grand Slam since the Open era began in 1968, officials at the tournament and Chinese media said.

Former junior number one Shang -- also known as “Jerry” -- battled through qualifying and faces Oscar Otte of Germany in the first round, where he will be joined by fellow Chinese athletes Zhang Zhizhen and Wu Yibing.

The 23-year-old Wu last year became the first Chinese man in 63 years to win a singles match at a Grand Slam when he knocked 31st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili out of the US Open.

Wu reached the third round in New York, another milestone.

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There will also be seven Chinese players in the women’s singles draw in Melbourne, led by the fast-emerging Zheng Qinwen, 20, who is ranked 30th in the world and touted as a possible future major champion.

The retired Li Na remains China’s best-ever player after she won the French Open in 2011 and Australian Open three years later.

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