Get to Know 'ZZZ' Zhang Zhizhen

He’s a pioneer 

Li Na, the 2011 Roland-Garros women's singles champion and the first Chinese player to ever win a major, is the household name that brought tennis to the mainstream in China. But the men had always lacked credentials, and starpower, until Zhang came along, that is. 

Zhang has repeatedly made history for his country over the last few seasons. He became the first Chinese man to play the main draw of a Grand Slam when he qualified at Wimbledon in 2021, and that was just the beginning.

Zhang became the first Chinese man to reach the top 100 (in October 2022), and more recently became the first to reach the top 50, in January of 2024. 

“I’m super happy about it actually, and now I’m just looking forward to a new goal – top 30, top 20, maybe top 10, but I’ll wait until I get to top-30 to say top 10 - I’ll take it step by step,” he says. 

Zhang is also the first man from his country to reach the third round of a major, and the first Chinese man to ever defeat a top-5 player (Casper Ruud at the 2023 US Open). Last year in Madrid he became the first Chinese player to reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final, and repeated the feat this year on the Roman clay.

In 2023 on the Parisian clay, Zhang became the first Chinese man to win a main draw match at Roland-Garros since 1937.

Don’t sleep on ZZZ 

Zhang goes by the nickname triple Z because he has three Zs in his name. Here’s how he explained it to the ATP: 

"My full name is too hard for people to say, so I just tell them to say whatever they want to call me and I will respond," said Zhang. "Then it became 'ZZZ' because there are three Zs in my name. It is much easier for people outside of China to say. And it sounds cool. Triple-Z. I also like to sleep, so 'ZZZ' is perfect."

He’s a late bloomer

Zheng has needed time to find his way on tour. After turning pro in 2012, it took him ten years to reach the top 100. At 27 (he will turn 28 in October), believes he is now stepping into his prime years. 

“We used to say that between the age of 22 and 26 was the best moment, but now it seems like 26 to 28 is the best moment because we have more experience, and we’ve done the fitness work, so you can have a longer career, because your body is okay to play. 

“I also believe that. When I was young I had less experience, but now I’m older and I have more experience and the body can still go, so I would say now it’s time to push. Before I was out there to learn, but now it’s time to push.” 

He’s a massive star in China 

The Covid-19 pandemic was particularly tough on Chinese players, as the traditional Asian swing was completely shut down from 2020 to 2022. When tennis returned to China in 2023, Zhang experienced a different landscape in his country. 

“First of all I would say I was really happy to get back to China again, especially in the Shanghai Masters,” he said, reflecting on his trip to the round of 16. “Before that I never had a win of a match, or set, at Shanghai Masters, in the last years."

Zhang said he was always popular in his hometown, but never like he experienced in 2023. 

“I wasn’t ready for so many fans over there. But life has changed… At the tournaments, it’s a little bit different. Before, at the tournaments, I could still go outside, walking around a little bit, to see my friends or whatever, but last year I could not really walk outside because it was really crazy – I mean in a nice way, crazy, not in a bad way.” 

His parents let him be free 

Zhang’s parents, both elite athletes, gave their son space to cultivate his love for tennis. 

“The biggest thing they did for me is they released their hand, they really didn’t care about me," he says tongue-in-cheek, as the press room erupted in laughter. "My parents didn’t step on my tennis. Maybe when I was young – six or seven, or maybe nine or ten – it’s okay, they were really watching my practice.

"But the first time I decided to play national tournaments I was going alone. I was going with other parents, so they really didn’t step on my tennis, which is a good thing for me, I don’t like them to watch on site. Even now I still don’t like my mom to watch on site, even at the Shanghai Masters she stays home.” 

Ben Shelton on Zhang: He’s really dangerous 

Zhang, who owns a 4-1 lifetime record at Roland-Garros after defeating Lorenzo Sonego in the second round on Thursday, is a tall and powerful player who embraces first-strike tennis. 

But 'ZZZ' is not a one-trick pony. He moves exceptionally well for his height (193cm) and has a well-rounded, flowing game that allows him to win matches in many different ways.

American Ben Shelton, who lost to Zhang in Rome earlier this month, explains what makes Zhang a special player. 

“He’s really dangerous because he moves well for how big and tall he is. He is a great ball striker on both wings, he can take away time and he serves and he returns extremely well – he's a tough guy to play against. 

“He beat me in Rome, and we also had an epic five-setter in 2023 in Australia that went to a 10-point tiebreak. He does so many things so well and has a pretty complete game.”