The grass is always greener on the other side, it is often said. Ask Zhizhen Zhang, who will completely agree. The Chinese star is having the best time of his career, reaching the last four at Halle Open. Yesterday, he defeated America’s Chris Eubanks in a thrilling match to make it to the semifinals. A fan of Roger Federer, Zhang has been surprised by his rise on grass.
While taking up tennis, Zhang idolized Federer and tried to follow in his footsteps. Last year, they even had a warm interaction at the Shanghai Masters when local stars Zhang and Li Na honored Federer after he retired from tennis. The Swiss maestro even called Zhang a future superstar in the making, and the Chinese star’s recent performances will only make Federer proud.
Despite being a fan of Federer, Zhang wasn’t a big fan of the grass. Zhang always struggled on this surface until his rise in Halle. As a result, he was surprised by his performance at the ongoing tournament in Halle. During an interview, he went on to say, “It’s really surprising. I’m always saying I like grass but I thought my grass tennis wasn’t really good. Maybe even better on clay. But I don’t like the clay. But whatever.”
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Zhizhen Zhang after becoming first Chinese man to reach grass SF in the Open Era
“You’re in your 2nd ATP SF. Are you a bit surprised that it’s on grass?”
Zhizhen: “it’s really surprising. I’m always saying I like grass but I thought my grass tennis wasn’t really good. Maybe… pic.twitter.com/7EUW348L6W
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 21, 2024
Although becoming the first Chinese man to reach the semifinal of the grass-court event, Zhang’s stats on other surfaces are better than those on grass. While he has reached at least the second round at other Grand Slam tournaments, the Chinese star is yet to win a match at Wimbledon. However, with the momentum he possesses, it won’t be a surprise to see Zhang dig deep at the Wimbledon Championships.
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Zhang has an aggressive and hard-hitting game, something that Federer mastered over the years. It is quite evident from his style that he grew up watching the Swiss maestro and has emulated his way of playing. Further, when his dream of meeting Federer came true, Zheng had an emotional reaction.
Zhizhen Zhang ‘honored’ to stand alongside Roger FedererIn a glittery ceremony, Federer was left surprised by the reception he received in Shanghai after his retirement. The Swiss maestro was last seen here in 2019 when he reached the quarterfinals of the tournament. As a result, fans there had to wait for four years to catch a glimpse of Federer. One of the tournament’s most successful players, Federer is a three-time winner here. As a result, local stars Zhang and Li Na gave him a perfect tribute in front of thousands of fans.
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On the other hand, it was a dream come true for Zhang, as he got to meet and greet his boyhood hero. The Chinese star was left completely emotional and said, “From watching my idols play courtside to standing side-by-side with them is amazing, I feel so honored.”
Zhang will look to clinch his maiden ATP 500 title in Halle. However, it won’t be easy for him as he faces the top seed, Jannik Sinner, in the semifinals later today. Regardless of today’s result, Zhang would be proud of his performance in Halle.
Source : EssentiallySports