China's Zhang Zhizhen says he is on track to play at Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Hong Kong
From his career-high ranking of No 31 on the ATP list last July, Zhang, still nursing a shoulder injury, had seen his position slide to No 165 this week.
But he said on Monday that he should be back in six weeks' time and confirmed he was on course to play in November's National Games.
'If everything goes well, I should be returning in the week of September 8, at the Challenger Tour event in Guangzhou,' he said. 'I am still recovering, [but] everything is getting better.'
Zhang, whose last tournament was an ATP Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells in the United States in March, said he had been enjoying the time off with his daughter, who was born last August.
Australians Alex de Minaur (left) and Nick Kyrgios are part of the line-up in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP
But as he returns to the court, the 28-year-old said he planned to prepare specially for the two-day UTS, which runs at Kai Tak Arena from October 14 to 15.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Double Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen set to chase record Hong Kong Open jackpot
Organisers of the Li-Ning Hong Kong Open have staged a coup by persuading double badminton Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen to defend his title when the tournament returns next month. Advertisement In his first competition after claiming his second straight Olympic gold in Paris last summer, Dane Axelsen broke his Hong Kong duck by beating China's Lei Lanxi in a one-sided final. For this year's event, set for Hong Kong Coliseum from September 9 to 14, Axelsen will be joined in a loaded men's draw by China's world No 1, Shi Yuqi. The dramatic thunderstorms on Tuesday washed out a planned press conference, but not the enthusiasm of organisers, who anticipated the six-day event sparking a 'new wave of sporting excitement in Hong Kong'. The Hong Kong men's charge will be led by world No 13 and 2019 champion Lee Cheuk-yiu, along with Angus Ng Ka-long, who became the first home winner in 2016, and Jason Gunawan, a quarter-finalist last year. Hong Kong's Happy Lo in action at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Photo: AFP Hong Kong could be the stage for Dubai-based Axelsen's return to action after he had surgery in April to cure long-standing back problems.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
World Games 2025: Hong Kong's athletes ‘fully prepared' for Chengdu showpiece
Hong Kong's athletes have set off for Chengdu as the mainland Chinese city prepares to host the World Games, which will open on Thursday. Advertisement The Games, an international multi-sport event held every four years, consists of sports and disciplines that are not contested in the Olympics. This year's edition in Chengdu, in China's southwest, will last from August 7 to 17, and will feature more than 200 medal events across 34 disciplines. Hong Kong athletes will compete in seven of the sports: air sports, billiards, karate, orienteering, squash, water skiing and wushu. The city's delegation is led by chef de mission Wong Po-kee, the honorary deputy secretary general of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. Advertisement 'The World Games represents the highest level of international competition for non-Olympic sports,' Wong said. 'More than 20 athletes from Hong Kong, China have qualified to participate, which is a testament to the city's exceptional sporting talent.
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's Shandong Taishan gets 2-year ban from Asian club competitions after Ulsan no-show
Chinese club Shandong Taishan has been banned from Asian club competition for two years for its no-show against South Korean side Ulsan HD in the Asian Champions League (ACL) Elite in February. The Chinese Super League side pulled out hours before the February 19 match, blaming 'serious physical discomfort' of players and saying they were unable to form a team. The Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Commission said Shandong would not be able to play in the AFC's club competitions up to and including the 2026/27 season editions, and fined the club US$50,000. It also ordered Shandong to return a participation fee of US$600,000 and a performance bonus of US$200,000 to the AFC along with compensation of US$40,000 to Ulsan 'in respect of damages and losses claimed' by the South Korean club. Shandong's pull-out came days after the club said it had banned supporters for 'inappropriate behaviour' during a home ACL match against South Korean team Gwangju after fans in the crowd displayed images of South Korea's last military dictator, Chun Doo-hwan. Hundreds of people are estimated to have died or gone missing when the South Korean government violently put down the Gwangju uprising by pro-democracy protesters in May 1980, when Chun was the de facto leader of the country after leading a military coup.
