China’s seed Zhang Zhizhen exited Wimbledon after a gripping four-set match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff on Wednesday. The match, filled with intense rallies and narrow margins, concluded with Struff winning 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(1), 7-6(10-8).
Zhang, who made history by becoming the first man from the Chinese mainland to be seeded at a Grand Slam, started strong by taking the first set 7-5. His performance at Wimbledon followed a remarkable run at the Halle Open in Germany, where he reached his first ATP Tour-level semifinal on grass just two weeks prior.
In the second round at Wimbledon, Zhang faced Struff, a seasoned player who secured his maiden ATP title earlier this year in Munich. Struff responded to Zhang’s initial lead by claiming the second set 6-3.
The match intensified as both players showcased their resilience. The third set led to a tiebreaker, with Struff dominating 7-1. The fourth set was equally contested, culminating in a dramatic tiebreaker. Zhang fought valiantly, earning three set points, but Struff edged ahead to secure the tiebreaker 10-8.
Despite the loss, Zhang’s Wimbledon journey marked significant milestones. After defeating France’s Maxime Janvier in straight sets during the first round, he became the first man from the Chinese mainland to win main draw matches at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His rise to World No. 33 places him alongside Chinese Taipei’s Lu Yen-hsun as one of the highest-ranked male players.
Struff moves on to face Russia’s fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in the next round, while Zhang’s impressive grass-court season sets a promising tone for his future competitions.
Reference(s):
Wimbledon: Zhang Zhizhen out, Zhu Lin shines, Zhang Shuai/Kato advance
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