With a total of 11 semifinal appearances, who will become the third player from the mainland to claim their first tour title?

The China Open is fully underway, yet Zhang Zhizhen, who shined in last year's China season, was knocked out in the opening round. So far, male players from mainland China have reached the tour semifinals or beyond a total of 11 times, detailed as follows:

2025 Hangzhou 250 Semifinals: Wu Yibing

2025 Hong Kong 250 Semifinals: Shang Juncheng

2024 Beijing 500 Semifinals: Bu Yunchaokete

2024 Chengdu 250 Champion: Shang Juncheng

2024 Hangzhou 250 Runner-up (Third time): Zhang Zhizhen

2024 Hangzhou 250 Semifinals: Bu Yunchaokete

2024 Atlanta 250 Semifinals: Shang Juncheng

2024 Halle 500 Semifinals: Zhang Zhizhen

2024 Hong Kong 250 Semifinals: Shang Juncheng

2023 Hamburg 500 Semifinals: Zhang Zhizhen

2023 Dallas 250 Champion: Wu Yibing

The first to break through was Wu Yibing. At the Dallas tournament two years ago, he made a stunning impact by consecutively defeating top players like Isner and Fritz, reaching his first tour semifinal and then winning the title, gaining immense attention.

Since Wu Yibing’s initial breakthrough, more Chinese male singles players have joined this group. Among them, Zhang Zhizhen has made several semifinal appearances. Interestingly, his three semifinal runs have come on three different types of courts. However, he has yet to secure his first tour title.

Another mainland Chinese player to win a tour title is Shang Juncheng, who last year triumphed at the Chengdu event, leveraging home advantage to defeat Italy’s Musetti, proving the saying “like father, like son” in sports.

In last year’s China season, besides champion Shang Juncheng, the most notable performer was Bu Yunchaokete, who reached two tour semifinals. Especially at the star-studded China Open, making it to the semifinals was a remarkable achievement; he was stopped only by then world No.1 and defending champion Sinner.

Shang Juncheng holds the record for the most semifinal appearances, contributing four times. Three of these were on home soil, showing how the support of the home crowd has fully unleashed his potential. Among the four players, his talent is considered the strongest, with a promising future ahead.

With Zheng Qinwen rising in prominence, tennis in our country has gained increasing attention, and fans hope to see more tour champions emerge. After Wu Yibing and Shang Juncheng’s breakthroughs, who will be next? Perhaps someone not yet on the list...(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Chengqiya)