In an electrifying men’s singles semifinal at the 2024 China Open on October 1, Chinese player Bu Yunchaokete faced the reigning champion and world number one, Jannik Sinner. After over two hours of fiercely contested play, Bu fell short, bringing his tournament run to an end. Nevertheless, his performance earned him the distinction of achieving the best result for any Chinese male player in the event’s history.
Despite the chilly temperatures, the energy from the crowd at Diamond Court in the Beijing National Tennis Center remained high. The match took place on the first day of the “National Day” holiday, as spectators witnessed a historic moment: a Chinese player taking on the world’s top-ranked player.
Before the match, Bu reflected on his excitement about facing Sinner, recalling their previous meetings during their junior careers. “Regardless of the opponent, it’s all about playing. Competing against the world number one is always special. All I can do is enjoy the match and showcase my best self,” Bu commented.
In the first set, Bu showcased solid performance in baseline rallies. However, Sinner’s exceptional serving and defensive abilities resulted in a 3-6 loss for Bu. The second set was a fierce contest, with Bu pushing Sinner to a tiebreak, but he ultimately lost 6-7(3), concluding his unexpected journey as a wildcard entry.
On the women’s side, veteran player Zhang Shuai, who entered the tournament as a wildcard after enduring a 24-match losing streak in WTA singles, made a remarkable comeback in Beijing, winning three consecutive matches.
In the first set, after trading breaks of serve, Zhang secured a pivotal break in the tenth game to take it 6-4. Despite facing a break in her serve during the seventh game of the second set, she quickly regained control, closing out the match with a 6-2 victory, marking her third advancement to the quarterfinals of the China Open.
Looking ahead, Zhang is set to face Spain’s Paula Badosa, with no prior history between them. Zhang stated, “I haven’t focused much on the draw lately because I haven’t had wins to pull from. But I feel fearless; I just need to concentrate on being myself.”
In other matches that day, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, setting up a final showdown with Sinner. On October 2, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen will compete against Amanda Anisimova for a place in the women’s singles quarterfinals.
