In a thrilling first-round match at the China Open in Beijing on Friday, Buyunchaokete overcame fellow Chinese player Shang Juncheng in a three-set battle, winning 6(3)-7, 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the second round.
Both players have been in impressive form recently, each achieving significant milestones in their careers. Buyunchaokete reached the semifinals at the Hangzhou Open in east China’s Zhejiang Province earlier this week, while Shang Juncheng secured his first ATP Tour title at the Chengdu Open in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
In the first set, both players held their serves to reach 3-3. Shang gained an advantage in the seventh game by earning two break points. Although Buyunchaokete fended them off with two aces, he eventually lost the game and found himself trailing 3-5 after Shang held his serve. Buyunchaokete responded by breaking back and holding his serve, pushing the set into a tiebreaker. Shang outplayed Buyunchaokete in the tiebreak to claim the first set.
Determined to turn the match around, Buyunchaokete began the second set with a break and went on to secure three breaks in total during the set. Although Shang managed to break Buyunchaokete’s first serve, he could not prevent Buyunchaokete from dominating the set, which ended with an ace from Buyunchaokete.
The decisive third set saw both players exchanging breaks, tying at 4-4 after each secured two breaks in the first eight games. Shang then failed to hold his serve, allowing Buyunchaokete to serve for the match. Buyunchaokete clinched the victory with an ace, securing his place in the second round.
Having secured his first win at the China Open, Buyunchaokete will next face the tournament’s No. 6 seed, Lorenzo Musetti of Italy.
In other matches, another Chinese player, Zhang Zhizhen, was defeated by Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 in the first round. Second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain advanced by defeating France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4.
Reference(s):
Buyunchaokete of China advances to second round at China Open
cgtn.com
