Sydney, 1 January 2024 – China will face world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the men's singles match against Serbia in the group E group stage of the Tennis Union Cup. Although he was defeated by a score of -6 in the end, his tenacious struggle brought an admirable effort to the opening match of the Chinese team's United Cup.
In the first set, Zhang Zhizhen encountered Djokovic's strong serve attack in the 9th game and finally lost 3-6. Heading into the second set, despite Zhang's efforts to save match points, Djokovic put in a brilliant performance to win 2-6 to give Serbia the lead. Although the result of the game was disappointing, Zhang Zhizhen's fighting spirit on the court won the applause of the fans.
For the Chinese team, this match is the opening match of the United Cup, and it is also the debut of the men's singles competition. Despite failing to earn a point in this encounter, the team still has a chance to save face with a follow-up match.
Zhang Zhizhen performed well in the match, although he did not show weakness in the face of the formidable Djokovic, and dared to challenge his opponent. In the first set, Zhang Zhizhen showed tenacity on serve, saving multiple break points in a row to keep the score tight. However, in the sixth game, Djokovic still managed to make a crucial break with excellent serve and attacking ability, which turned the tide in his favor and eventually won 6-3.
In the second set, Djokovic continued his strong form, scoring two breaks in the opening game to turn the tide against the Chinese player. However, in the seventh game, Zhang Zhizhen showed a tenacious side, successfully saving match point and holding serve to buy some respite for the Chinese team. Although in the eighth game, Djokovic once again held serve to win the set and ended the match 6-2.
Although Zhang couldn't beat Djokovic, his performance was still impressive. As a representative of the Chinese team, he showed the hard work and tenacity of the Chinese players. For Zhang Zhizhen, this match is not only a contest between opponents, but also a valuable accumulation of experience.
In the next match of the Chinese team, Zheng Qinwen, the first sister of Jinhua, will face the opponent Danilovich. Zheng Qinwen showed strong strength in the opening game, helping China to a 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic. Her excellent performance provided strong confidence for the Chinese team to win the draw in the next match.
Djokovic has been in strong form this past season, with great results. Despite being over 35 years old, he is still the number one in the world, winning seven high-level titles last year to secure the year-end No. 1 spot. This participation in the United Cup is also the beginning of a new season for him, and it is also the key to fighting for a better record for the Serbian team.
Despite the failure to win the game, the overall strength of the Chinese team is still highly anticipated. Zhang Zhizhen's wonderful performance injected fighting spirit into the Chinese team and added highlights to the next game. Fans are looking forward to the Chinese team achieving a better record in the next games and winning glory for the country.