The ATP ranking that is published on Monday will place the 26-year-old player at the 97th position.
This week in the ATP 250 tournament in Naples, Zhang Zhizhen made it to the quarterfinals. On Monday, he became the first Chinese player to crack the Top 100 of the ATP global rankings.
The right-hander, who was born in Shanghai 26 years ago, was defeated by the American Mackenzie McDonald in the quarterfinals on Friday in Naples. McDonald won the match in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, and 6-2.
However, the points that he has earned this week, along with the other results in Naples and in the numerous ATP tournaments that have been held this week, will enable him to enter the Top 100 in the subsequent delivery of the weekly ranking.
Zhang made the transition to the professional circuit in 2012 and is presently rated 109th in the world, which is his best position in the rankings since he first competed.
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the governing body of men’s professional tennis, has been contacted by AFP and has estimated that it will point to 97th place on Monday.
“After advancing to the quarterfinals, Zhang commented to the ATP that breaking into the top 100 is a challenging endeavor. “He went on to say that although it is a baby step, it is nonetheless a significant one for the sport of men’s tennis in China.
The Chinese players climbed to the top of the world ladder a significant amount of time before their male counterparts did. They presently have seven players ranked in the top 100 of the WTA, topped by Zhang Shuai (26th).
Their predecessor, Li Na, broke into the Top 10 of the WTA rankings in 2010, and at one point in February 2014, she held the second spot in the women’s hierarchy.