Buyunchaokete, one of China’s rising tennis talents, secured a thrilling victory over compatriot Shang Juncheng to advance to the second round of the China Open in Beijing on Friday. After dropping the first set in a tiebreaker, Buyunchaokete mounted a comeback to win 6(3)-7, 6-2, 6-4.
Both players entered the match in exceptional form, having recently achieved significant milestones in their careers. Buyunchaokete reached the semifinals at the Hangzhou Open earlier this week, showcasing his growing prowess on the court. Meanwhile, Shang Juncheng clinched his first ATP Tour title at the Chengdu Open, marking a notable highlight in his burgeoning career.
The opening set was a closely contested battle, with both players holding their serves to reach 3-3. In the seventh game, Shang capitalized on two break points to take the lead. Although Buyunchaokete fought back with two aces, Shang ultimately claimed the first set in a tiebreaker, leading the match 1-0.
Undeterred by the initial setback, Buyunchaokete responded emphatically in the second set. He secured three breaks, overpowering Shang with a dominant performance that concluded with an ace, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The decisive third set escalated in intensity as both players exchanged two breaks each to tie at 4-4. Buyunchaokete then seized a crucial advantage by breaking Shang’s serve once more. Serving for the match, he delivered an ace to reach match point and sealed his victory with a final point, concluding the hard-fought contest.
With this victory, Buyunchaokete not only secured his advancement to the second round but also set up a challenging encounter with Italy’s No. 6 seed, Lorenzo Musetti.
Elsewhere in the tournament, another Chinese player, Zhang Zhizhen, faced a tough match against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, ultimately falling 3-6, 6-4, 3-6. Meanwhile, second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeated France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4.
Buyunchaokete’s performance signals a promising future for Chinese tennis as emerging talents continue to make their mark on the international stage. Tennis enthusiasts around the world will be keenly watching his next match against Musetti to see if he can continue his impressive run at the China Open.
Reference(s):
Buyunchaokete of China advances to second round at China Open
cgtn.com
