ROLAND GARROS

June 1, 2023

Zhang Zhizhen

Press Conference

Z. ZHIZHEN/T. Tirante

7-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. An amazing victory, pending all the circumstances. Do you feel any pressure being such an exposed Asian athlete at the moment in the world of tennis? How does this newfound success on clay feel for you in 2023?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: First of all, it was a big victory for me, for myself, especially in the Grand Slam those big moments for me was hard. Is not easy. I mean, the score is three sets, but it wasn't easy match.

For me is not a pressure to be here. I mean, here try to show my like show my best, best myself here, show everything what I have and try to compete with those guys.

That's the reason what I'm here. It's nothing pressure for me.

Yeah, what is the last one? I forget.

Q. That's pretty much it. Being Serbian journalist, I have to ask you what are your impressions of Novak Djokovic, his career and his achievements so far? Do you follow his tennis activities?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: I cannot say I follow his whole career, but, I mean, for sure the result is amazing. I mean, everyone knows what he made like amazing result, but, I mean, those guys are special for us, especially for me. Those guys, like Roger, like Rafa, like Novak, they are all the special guys. They are, I mean, kind of genius somehow.

We can put the goal like that one, but we cannot really following what they do, because is totally such a big difference like between them and us. Yeah.

Q. Congratulations on the current live rankings. You're one spot above your countryman Wu's highest ranking, so you're just outside the top 50. What would that mean to you to become the top Chinese man and potentially the first into the top 50?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Well, we have been couple times already changing, I think like three times like changing like first and second. At the moment, you know, we have pretty much points have to defend after Roland Garros actually. From now after this week to US Open, we both have a lot of points to defend.

I mean, still, it's a good chance to go to top 50. Seems when we made top 100 and next goal is top 50, that's we had the goal, it is like this, 100, 50, maybe 30 or 20, that's depending on the person.

Yeah, I mean, just trying to take the chance and to break this 50. Let's see if we can make it. Yes.

Q. In qualifying, Jerry Shang spoke a lot about how much he looks up to both of you as brothers almost. How special is this camaraderie between the three of you?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: I would say very good moment for us, because, I mean, he's very good player also, as well, but at the moment the rankings didn't really high, but I believe the ranking will come after, for sure.

I'm the oldest one at the moment, but we have other Chinese guys, but whatever. I don't feel any pressure for them. I would like for them to go in front of me, which means we got a better result in our country. I mean, I would be happy just everyone go through the top 100, go through the top 50. That's, I mean, good news for us at least, yes.