ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 1, 2024

Zhang Zhizhen

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Any English questions, please?

Q. I would like to ask you how it feels to arrive in Shanghai after such a great result at your last tournament, and returning after a fabulous result here last year?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Well, you know, come back here, always feel excited because it's my hometown, so I'm always happy to be back to here to play the tournaments. Even last year, even last year I was even happier because last year just finished the Asian Games and got the gold, and then coming to here was great.

This year also, I mean, you know, pretty okay season at the moment, and, yeah, hopefully I can have some good result here, but also I need to take care of my body well here.

Q. It's such a successful period for Chinese men's tennis at the moment, have you been giving any advice to your fellow players?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Well, no, I mean, I didn't give any advice, because they are already great, they're all of the greatest players. I mean, they are, you know, they don't need my advice at the moment. They have strong teams, so the team, I mean, everyone is going on the right road, so should be good.

Q. Are you friends as a group? Do you have friendships among that group?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Friendships?

Q. Are you friends with any of your fellow players, Chinese players?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Oh, yes, I mean, we're always, like, kind of, we're kind of a group, but yet it was tough during the tournament period, because everyone has different schedule and, yeah, we don't even have some time to eating lunch together, that's the toughest one, but we still have some communication if we have some time, if we meet each other, yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: I had a tour of the city, spent two days for rest, and this is the second day in Shanghai to do my practice. I also try to do some preparations for my body and my overall physical condition.

Q. Shanghai is your hometown, any goals for Shanghai?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Personally, I try to keep physically well, and also I'll try to do my best in Shanghai, although that contains a little bit of risk, but I will try my best.

Q. Last year in Shanghai you had just won a gold in the Asian Games, and this year again you had another breakthrough in the Paris Olympics game. What's your expectations on your performance in Shanghai?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: As I have said, I had some injuries, so I'll try to do my best and push myself, under the condition that I don't hurt myself further. I will try to keep fit, that's my number one priority. I don't want to rest five to six weeks because of a certain injury, but of course I'll try my best here.

Q. A follow-up question, yesterday Buyunchaokete had a breakthrough in China Open entering the quarterfinals. I wonder whether you will have any interactions and you will talk to him here, because when I saw the main draw I think that you also have a pretty challenging task.

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Yes, if we want to move further, we definitely have to face our opponents. Sometimes it's not a bad thing to face those top players and see players in previous rounds.

Talking about communicating with each other, we do interact with each other, send pictures to each other, and Bu also asks me whether I can help him get a concert ticket, and I said I would try. So, yeah, we talk to each other all the time.

Q. After the Olympics games, you had some breakthroughs in the Paris Olympics, I wonder whether that victory changed your personal goals, and I think you're always optimistic and that's also true in the Paris Olympics, so any assessment to yourself?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: I think I haven't changed my goal. We have Olympics every four years, and I think I focus more on the World Ranking. In two to three years, or if I get a chance for the next Olympics, I'll try to change the color of the title from silver to gold, not to bronze, of course.

There are many uncertainties, but I think I try to be positive all the time, and I think that's very much needed. I'm not necessarily very relaxed, but I try to be optimistic all the time.