ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 1, 2025

Zhang Zhizhen

Press Conference

S. BAEZ/Z. Zhizhen

2-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the press conference of Zhang Zhizhen. We will start with questions in Chinese.

Q. First, introduce to us, in the serve and volley of the match, it seems that you are suffering from some injury. Tell us what's going on.

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: It's a cramp. I don't have enough stamina. At the end of the second set I already felt that a little bit. Then also the entire third set, my serving already suffered from the cramp. Also, if I go long distance to do a rescue, or something that takes a bit of a stretch, I feel that cramp. It kept coming up to me. Now I've recovered a little bit and it has eased.

Q. I notice that the first set you did very well. During the break, it seems that your opponent went out there to do a bit of relaxation, then came back. You fell back, you suffered a 0-4. Tell us what happened that second set.

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Oh, okay. The first set I did very well. I felt very well. He also had some unforced errors.

Then, at the beginning of the second set, the first game of the second set I felt nervous. I don't know what happened. I think it might also have something to do with the cramp. I was very focused, but I felt nervous, it consumed a great deal of energy in me. I could accept the fact that I lost the first serving game of the second set. Then the second serving game I lost in that set was too fast after 30-All.

For my opponent, he didn't really find the right rhythm for himself, and it really gave me a lot of opportunities. But in the second set I felt too fast in my serving game. I lost two serving games, so it's very difficult for me. If I was able to hold one of the two games that I lost I would have had an opportunity.

However, in his serving game I had two break points, but I was too nervous. I had to accept also one of the forehand line drive, I hit it prematurely. So, you know, my rhythm wasn't right.

Q. In Hangzhou, you said your forehand currently is not completely finished. But now after two more stations, from China Open to Shanghai, I think for the first set your forehand was very good performance. Tell us, what's your assessment of your performance of your forehand? Going forward, any technical detail you can share with us from your forehand?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Well, my feeling is that I think there's a long distance for me to go to have a fully-developed forehand. It takes a long distance. More than just the hand work, a lot of leg work.

Also, like how to bring up energy because I had a cramp. I never had that before. In the past I don't have that kind of facial expression. I felt the cramp coming from the right buttocks all the way to my calf through my thigh. So this has never happened before. I think this is new for me.

It might have something to do with how I'm going to move myself going forward. So, pre-training and pre-match activity, that I have to do a bit of more training to get accustomed to that.

Q. Before the match, have you ever kind of expect what is your plan to participate in other matches?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Can you repeat a little?

Q. Have you ever, based on the outcome of today's performance, in designing your future participation in different tournaments, and today's outcome, will that affect your future plans?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: The past couple of days I was thinking about perhaps I should take part in the Seoul Challenge. We had discussed that amongst ourselves. It's really not going to change anything, today's outcome. Eventually we decided not to go there to Seoul to take part in the challenge.

Then, for me, going forward from this point out, there's going to be the National Games in China, maybe. I haven't really thought about other tournaments to take part in.

Like I said, a lot of things to be done in the next couple of weeks, three weeks. It's going to be more about recovering and testing. I don't want to skip a lot of steps.

Just think about six weeks ago. Six weeks ago I went to do a commercial, I was not able to complete that commercial. I think there are still physical problems with me. I need some time to prepare. Like I just said, I'm still in the recovering stage, and we need to work more to prepare for next year.

Q. I want to ask you, in your previous interviews you said that the past couple of two weeks your game is back a little bit, and you also think, you think that you are a patient guy. Sometimes you lose a match there seems to be a bit of emotional expression on your face, like you're not satisfied. The past six months of absence, and then you recover from your past injury. Tell us, so far, what's your biggest challenge? I would also like to ask you, the Zhang Zhizhen right now compared with last year, where is your progress so far?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: For me, patience is not seen in one match alone. I think it is about the whole cycle. I need to just calm down, take it slow, don't skip any step.

Perhaps I lost today's match, I feel frustrated. I really want to win this match in front of the people in Shanghai, my hometown. Also the past couple of weeks I played a few matches, I really want to win. I also want to win with good game.

Today I think it's quite a pity, I don't know how to say it, that I lost it. Today's match, I can say that I could be proud a little bit. I can say, yeah, I'm proud a little bit. I think some of the efforts I put in was paid off.

For example, the first set. I'm capable of doing it. So the first-set performance is my goal for next year. My stamina, my physical capability, I need to prepare more for that. Today, for the first set, I'm pleased with that.

If you ask me, compared with before, it's very hard to compare with before. I don't have a quite complete game to compare with the beginning of last year. Back then it was a full form of myself. I'm fully ready to take part in the match. This simply cannot be compared with like the beginning of last year.

So, for now, I feel pleased. After I have lacked a great deal of preparation, I was able to make it this time, so I'm pleased with the performance, so far.

Q. Just to follow-up on the previous question, it seems that you feel you have recovered your form. In Hangzhou, it was the first stop after you came back. You said it feels like you have not yet feel reporting back to duty. I would like to ask you, do you feel like you're back to duty, and are you going to set a new goal for next career path?

ZHANG ZHIZHEN: Well, first let's talk about a mental stage, about a cramp. I asked the therapist to come to help me do the treatment. I asked him, Why should I come back? I feel like when I'm lying down there it feels comfortable. Actually, for today's match I enjoyed that.

For the first match in Hangzhou, I also enjoyed it. I think this is good thing for me.

In the past, how to put it? In the past when I played it felt a bit twisted, a bit exhausted. It feels like I was paying more close attention only to winning or losing. Now I'm just putting that aside a little bit. I was able to draw lessons and draw some good thinking, some experience from that.

Today's game, I felt very okay. I just want to say, compared with last week, it's much better. Compared with the second match in Hangzhou, also much better.