In a hard-fought match at the Madrid Open, China's Buyunchaokete fell to Britain's Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 7-6(2) during Thursday's men's singles first round. The 20-year-old Chinese player struggled against Fearnley's dominant first serves, which reached 80% accuracy in the opening set.
The competitors, meeting for the third time overall but first on the ATP Tour, delivered a tense second set that saw Buyunchaokete force a tiebreak after 12 games. While the Chinese athlete showed improved adaptability, Fearnley ultimately secured victory with a decisive 7-2 tiebreak performance.
Fearnley advances to face Czech Republic's 19th-seeded Tomáš Macháč in the next round. The match underscores the competitive landscape of Asian athletes in global tennis circuits as young players like Buyunchaokete gain international experience.
