Many top players have been eliminated, is Zhang Zhizhen poised to claim his first title?

The China season tournaments in Hangzhou and Chengdu are progressing intensely, but many top players have faltered unexpectedly.

First to go was last year's Hangzhou champion and former Grand Slam winner Cilic. Last year, he claimed the title at a historic low ranking, and his comeback seemed relatively smooth.

This handsomeand kind-hearted Croatian giant decided to come back to defend his title, naturally hoping to make gains this year on this land that holds special meaning for him. Unexpectedly, he suffered a heavy defeat. Considering his lackluster performance in other tournaments this year, his early exit is not entirely surprising.

Next was the Italian heartthrob Berrettini, whose results have actually declined compared to last year's comeback. His performance in major tournaments needs no further introduction; even on grass courts, where he usually excels, he showed no highlights. He also failed to win titles in lower-tier events as he did last year. Therefore, his early exit in the opening tournament of the China season is not too disappointing for the former top-ten player now ranked outside the top thirty.

Last year's Hong Kong champion Rublev entered this tournament as the top seed, but faced a dark horse qualifier. Having been eliminated early after the US Open and out of practice, he was upset by his opponent. Such a weak showing left his Chinese fans both amused and disappointed.

Other notable players like Belgian star Goffin were also knocked out early, leaving fans eager to see his performance in upcoming events such as the China Open.

Last year's Chengdu runner-up and this year's French Open semifinalist Musetti barely advanced after a tough three-set battle to reach the quarterfinals. The second seed still in the draw, Medvedev, will face Wu Yibing, the first mainland Chinese player to win a tour-level title. Given Wu’s current momentum and local fan support, the outcome remains uncertain. Meanwhile, last year's Washington champion Korda, who has also struggled with a difficult comeback and ranking drop, was defeated by Wu Yibing.

Currently, Shang Juncheng and Bu Yunchaokete have been eliminated, leaving only Wu Yibing and Zhang Zhizhen advancing together. Looking back at last year's Chengdu tournament, although Zhang Zhizhen maintained his strong mid-season form and reached the final, he ultimately succumbed to the resilient Cilic. With many top players faltering this year, could Zhang Zhizhen repeat the breakthrough performances of last year's Shang Juncheng and earlier Wu Yibing?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Cheng Qiye)