Zhang Zhizhen gave his all saving five match points before exiting; Shang Juncheng faces Medvedev today with fans eagerly offering advice.

Following Zhang Zhizhen's defeat in the opening round at the Dubai 500, the burden unfortunately shifted to Shang Juncheng, who plays today. How he performs will decide if the Chinese men's tennis flag keeps flying in Dubai or falls.

When the draw was first announced, seeing Zhang Zhizhen matched against the tournament's top seed Aliassime made the former Chinese top player an immediate cause for worry among fans.

The two had just faced off a little over a month ago at the United Cup, and now they meet again on the court. Although it seems like a chance for Zhang Zhizhen to get revenge, some fans and netizens admitted they would rather avoid such an opportunity because it can be emotionally draining.

The reason being that Zhang failed to unsettle Aliassime at the United Cup, losing both sets 4-6. Facing a Canadian player in even better form now, the former Chinese number one’s prospects are grim.

Especially after Zhang gave up the first set 3-6, many believed his early exit in Dubai was inevitable.

After losing the first set, Zhang clearly raised his level in the second, showing strong will to fight back, which led to an intense set culminating in a tiebreak.

Unfortunately, in the tiebreak, Zhang’s form wavered at critical moments, costing him dearly as Aliassime closed it out 7-4, winning in straight sets and handing Zhang his second consecutive loss this season.

As the first Chinese male player to compete in Dubai singles, although Zhang Zhizhen failed to secure a win for China, there was no harsh criticism because fans and netizens recognized that “he truly gave everything.” The skill gap with Aliassime was clear, making victory impossible.

Looking back at Zhang’s match, he fought fiercely from start to finish, giving the impression he wouldn’t leave without using every last bullet in his chamber.

In the eighth game of the first set, Zhang had four break points on Aliassime’s serve but failed to convert any. Had he succeeded, the pressure dynamics might have shifted dramatically, potentially changing the match’s course.

Zhang’s performance in the second set was even more admirable! Aliassime seemed eager to finish quickly, but the former Chinese number one fought desperately to prolong the match, hoping to find a chance for a comeback.

For example, at 4-5 serving, Zhang saved two match points; at 5-6 serving, he bravely saved three more, showing extraordinary determination to push the contest to a tiebreak.

Though Zhang eventually lost, some netizens commented that while there is a gap in ability, it’s not an enormous one. The key difference lies in handling critical points, where Zhang wasn’t as sharp as the Canadian, which is why many felt sorry for “Zhang the Real.”

Considering the immense pressure Zhang faced, saving all five match points against Aliassime was a remarkable feat. Before the match, some predicted based on the United Cup results that Zhang would likely be swept or narrowly defeated, so this outcome was quite acceptable.

Next, Shang Juncheng will take the court to complete the task Zhang left unfinished and continue China’s pursuit of a breakthrough in Dubai.

However, Shang faces pressure no less than Zhang’s, possibly even greater, as his first-round opponent is the Russian star Daniil Medvedev.

Many worry for Shang because the two recently met in Doha, where Shang was soundly defeated. Meeting again in Dubai’s first round makes Shang’s quest for revenge extremely challenging.

Before the match, many offered Shang advice to increase his chances of upsetting Medvedev, emphasizing the need to “improve stability in serving, returning, and baseline rallies,” and to be braver and more precise on crucial points, combined with a fearless fighting spirit. “This time, he can definitely challenge Medvedev, making the outcome very uncertain.”

The highly anticipated clash between Shang Juncheng and Medvedev will start at 6 PM Beijing time today. Everyone is waiting to see if Shang can avenge his Doha loss or if he will pay the price once again!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)