China's Buyunchaokete achieved a historic run at the 2024 China Open, upsetting top players to reach the semifinals and showcasing his journey from humble beginnings to international success.
by Sportswriters Li Bowen, Hu Jiali and Li Chunyu
BEIJING, Oct.2 (Xinhua) -- Buyunchaokete, a rising star in Chinese men's tennis, has journeyed from humble beginnings to professional success.
His career reflects his resilience, as he puts it: "The path I have taken is different from others."
Born in 2002, Buyunchaokete was discovered by coach Luo Yong and began training in Huzhou, Zhejiang, at the age of five. By 2011, he joined the Zhejiang provincial team, where he met his lifelong coach, Yu Jinxing.
"You could see the desire and fighting spirit in his eyes," Yu recalls. While Buyunchaokete may not have had the most natural talent, his relentless work ethic and sharp tactical awareness made him stand out.
At just 12, Buyunchaokete won both the singles and doubles titles at the China Tennis Junior Tour. "His drive often exceeds my expectations. He demands perfection from himself and is never satisfied," Yu noted. Despite setbacks, Buyunchaokete sought additional training and remained focused on achieving his goals.
At 14, he won the prestigious Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship U14 title. By 2018, he had secured seven ITF youth singles championships, reaching a junior world ranking of No. 5.
Yu remembers their time at the Orange Bowl. Due to financial constraints, they opted for budget accommodations to participate in more competitions. "We were in the U.S. for the Orange Bowl when he was only 14. We woke up at five in the morning while it was still dark. To save on taxi fares, we would walk 20 to 30 minutes to the venue. I still have a photo of the sunrise from that morning.," Yu recounted.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Buyunchaokete's transition to the professional circuit, forcing him to start at ITF 15K events from the ground up. "Starting from the ground up has grounded me. It may be slower, but it's solid. Each step has helped elevate my game," the 22-year-old said.
Buyunchaokete's perseverance paid off in 2022 when he completed his first full international season. He won his first Challenger title at the 2023 Seoul Open, and later in October, he secured his first ATP Tour win at the 2023 Shanghai Masters by defeating Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic.
This year, Buyunchaokete has reached new heights, making his Grand Slam debut with three consecutive wins in the US Open qualifiers. He also reached the semifinals of the 2024 Hangzhou Open, breaking into the ATP top 100 for the first time.
At the ongoing 2024 China Open, Buyunchaokete made headlines by upsetting sixth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti and world No. 6 Andrey Rublev, achieving the best result for a Chinese men's player in the tournament's history.
On China's National Day, he fought valiantly against reigning champion and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals but ultimately fell short, losing in a tiebreak in the second set.
"He (Buyunchaokete) is a very, very good young player," said the US Open champion after the match. "We'll see him in the future on bigger stages. It takes a little bit of time, but I feel like if he keeps coming up with this kind of level, he will reach what he is dreaming of."
Buyunchaokete looks up to Andy Murray as his idol. "I admire his resilience, especially during the 'Big Three' era. His belief in success despite failures resonates with me," Buyunchaokete said. ■
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