China News Service, Beijing, February 12th. In the men's doubles final of the ATP 250 Marseille station that ended on the evening of the 11th, Beijing time, Zhang Zhizhen and his partner Makhach defeated the Finnish combination Salminen/Rusu 6:3, 6:4. Worry won the first championship since their cooperation. This is Zhang Zhizhen’s first doubles title on the ATP Tour and the first title in the Year of the Dragon for the Chinese men’s tennis team.
After successively eliminating the German combination Franzen/Jebens and the tournament's No. 2 seeds Pierce/Herriovara, Zhang Zhizhen/Makhach entered the men's doubles semi-finals in Marseille. Facing Koda/Kirkov in the semi-finals, Zhang Zhizhen/Makhach completed a reversal after losing a set first.
In this final, the Finnish combination Salminen/Rusuvori did not pose much threat to Zhang Zhizhen/Makhach. 6:3, 6:4, Zhang Zhizhen/Makhach won in straight sets and achieved their wish.
After the game, Zhang Zhizhen said that he was very happy to win this final and he hoped to return here to compete next year.
Since Zhang Zhizhen partnered with Makhach, the two have shown a good chemical reaction. They have achieved a record of 8 wins and 1 loss this year and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Zhang Zhizhen also became the first person to enter the Grand Slam in the Open era. Mainland China player who has reached the semi-finals of men's doubles.
Zhang Zhizhen during the competition (file photo) Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
For Zhang Zhizhen, competing in France may have a different feeling - the first Hope Championship he won outside China was in France. Zhang Zhizhen once recalled that experience: "It was really incredible. I didn't expect that at all."
Now, he has reached another career milestone here. According to ATP statistics, this is not only Zhang Zhizhen’s first tour doubles title, he also became the first mainland Chinese player to win a tour men’s doubles title in the Open era. (over)