For China’s male tennis players, signs of a new dawn at the French Open

Hemmed in between the French Open’s two showpiece arenas, Court No. 8 ranks among the smallest of the 18 clay courts at Roland Garros. On a sweltering Tuesday afternoon, the 350-seater venue was also among the loudest – courtesy of a smattering of flag-waving Chinese fans who tried their best to push Li Zheng, the world number 40, during her opening-round defeat. 

Boisterous Chinese fans have become a fixture of the Paris Grand Slam tournament. This is where the women’s game in China achieved its breakthrough a decade ago, with Li Na’s 2011 triumph on the Paris clay – the first Grand Slam singles title for a Chinese player. 

As a result, the French Open holds a “special place in Chinese hearts”, said tennis fan Youyuan, leaving the stands at Court 8 following Zhen’s straight-sets defeat (6-3, 6-3) against Lauren Davis of the United States. 

“We’re used to seeing female players from China here in Paris,” said the 36-year-old from Suzhou, near Shanghai, making his fourth trip to Roland Garros. “The great news this year is that we have male players too.” 

For its first appearance in the men’s draw since 1937, China has fielded a total of three players this year, all of whom had their opening-round matches on Monday.  

First up was teenage sensation Shang Juncheng, fresh from his second-round showing at the Australian Open in January, when he was still only 17. Shang got off to a flying start against Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru, cruising to an early two-set lead. But a wrist injury – and, possibly, inexperience – saw him fade away in the punishing heat and bow out in five sets (4-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1). 

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Wu Yibing faced a tough opponent in veteran Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, who twice reached the