US Open: Zhang Zhizhen becomes FIRST Chinese man to beat a top-five tennis player by downing Casper Ruud in five sets to reach the third round

Zhang Zhizhen became the first Chinese man to beat a top five player in the ATP rankings by defeating Casper Ruud at the US Open on Wednesday.

Zhang upset No. 5 seed 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the second time. It was his second five-set win to open this tournament, having lost his first four five-setters.

Zhang became the first Chinese man to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon in the professional era when he qualified in 2021.

He qualified at the US Open last year and joined Wu Yibing as the first man from his country in the main draw of that year’s last Grand Slam tournament.

Zhang, 26, reached the third round of the French Open in June before falling prey to Ruud, who had reached the final in three of the last six Grand Slam events.

Zhang Zhizhen, left, from China, shakes hands with Casper Ruud, from Norway

Ruud, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in Flushing Meadows last year, is the highest ranked Norwegian in the history of the ATP ranking, which dates back to 1973.

It reached number 2 last year and is currently at number 5.

But after dropping the fourth set in just 23 minutes, Zhang broke Ruud’s serve to open the final set and add a second for a 4-1 lead.

He will face Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the third round.