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French Open: Zhang continues to break through barriers, Wang prevails on good day for Chinese pair at Roland Garros

  • Zhang Zhizhen downs Thiago Agustin Tirante in straight sets to become first Chinese player to reach third round of men’s singles since 1937
  • Wang Xinyu also into next round, where she will face world No 1 Iga Swiatek

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Zhang Zhizhen celebrates  after beating Thiago Agustin Tirante in the second round of the men’s singles at the French Open. Photo: Xinhua

Zhang Zhizhen has broken through another barrier for Chinese tennis, becoming the country’s first player to reach the third round of the men’s singles since 1937.

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The 26-year-old claimed a straight-sets win over Thiago Agustin Tirante, beating the Argentinian 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 21 minutes.

It was a good day all round for China, with Wang Xinyu also reaching the next stage in the women’s singles.

Zhang called the result “a big victory” and said moments like that “were not easy”.

“Here I’m trying to show my best … show everything I have and try to compete with those guys,” he said.

China’s Wang Xinyu plays a backhand return to Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson during their women’s singles match. Photo: AFP
China’s Wang Xinyu plays a backhand return to Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson during their women’s singles match. Photo: AFP

Zhang, who reached the quarter-finals at the Madrid Masters, squandered a match point in the ninth game of the third set, but recovered to serve for the victory with a love game.

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