China’s Zhang Zhizhen says he is on track to play at Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Hong Kong
Zhang, recovering from a shoulder injury, says he will play the innovative event ‘as entertainment’ but still aims to win it
China’s Zhang Zhizhen has said he expects to return to action in time for October’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Hong Kong – but will first have to get to grips with the rules of the innovative event.
From his career-high ranking of No 31 on the ATP list last July, Zhang, still nursing a shoulder injury, has 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.
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.