Zhang stuns Fritz in Madrid to become China’s first Masters quarter-finalist

It has been a brilliant year for Chinese men’s tennis, and the party continues this week in Madrid. Just over two months after Wu Yibing became the first Chinese man to ever win an ATP title, Zhizhen Zhang has notched a significant milestone in Madrid.

Chinese Zhizhen Zhang rallied to stun world No 10 Taylor Fritz, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8) to move into the last eight of the Madrid Masters at the Caja Magica on Tuesday evening.

Fritz had his chances. The American had three match points in the final-set tiebreaker, but could not convert. Instead it was the 26-year-old Shanghai native who made good on his second match point to close out the wild encounter in two hours and 29 minutes.

Zhang has been king of clutch at Madrid, winning six of seven tiebreaks, including his last five. He has defeated Denis Shapovalov, Cameron Norrie and Fritz in deciding tiebreaks.

Zhang, ranked No 99, becames the first Chinese player to ever reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final – he will face qualifier Aslan Karatsev next.

“After losing the first set I was just thinking about trying to play it close,” Zhang said on court after his triumph. “In the end that I can win, it’s amazing.”

Karatsev next, no secrets anymore

It may sound like a dream quarter-final, facing unseeded Aslan Karatsev in his first Masters quarter-final, but Zhang knows he’ll be in for a challenge, based on what he saw on the practice courts with Karatsev recently.

“I will tell you a secret,” he said. “We had a practice and I lost 6-0 with Karatsev. I’ll do my best, nothing that I can do, they are all great players.”

Zhang is up from No 99 to No 66 in the ATP live rankings. His previous career-high was No 91. If he can defeat Karatsev he will make his top 50 debut and become the highest-ranked Chinese player in history next week.

Ahead of his victory, the Chinese won against Austrian qualifier Jurij Rodionov (7-6 (6), 6-4), Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the No 21 seed (6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (1)) and No 11 seed Cameron Norrie (2-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2)).

Fritz, ranked No 10, defeated Australian Christopher O’Connell (7-6 (11), 6-4) and Chilean Cristian Garin (6-1, 7-6 (4)) earlier in the tournament.

Madrid Masters, other last 16 results (Caja Magica, clay, EUR 7.705.780, most recent results first):

• Bernabe Zapata Miralles vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas
• Jan-Lennard Struff vs. Pedro Cachin
• Carlos Alcaraz (1) beat Alexander Zverev (13): 6-1, 6-2
• Borna Coric (17) beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (29): 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
• Aslan Karatsev beat Daniil Medvedev (2): 7-6 (1), 6-4
• Daniel Altmaier (LL) beat Jaume Munar: 6-3, 6-0
• Karen Khachanov (10) beat Andrey Rublev (5): 7-6 (8), 6-4

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