Zhang Zhizhen: Missed out on a million-dollar prize due to not knowing how to register for the "One Point Decides" event

On January 16, Zhang Zhizhen, former top Chinese male tennis player competing in the 2026 Australian Open, spoke with Chinese reporters about his physical condition for the new season and his preparation for matches. He humorously mentioned missing out on a million-dollar prize at the Grand Slam "One Point Decides" event because he did not know how to sign up.

Zhang Zhizhen at the United Cup (Photo: Visual China)

Zhang Zhizhen started his new season at the United Cup, where he fought hard to win a three-set match against Berrettini in his opening game, but lost the second match to Aliassime. "I played three matches, not counting mixed doubles. I think my two singles matches were quite good, showing many positive signs. For example, playing two consecutive days of high-intensity matches was overall okay. On court, I didn’t feel too rusty, and my overall condition, including serving and forehand (especially the forehand since I’ve made many changes), had few major mistakes," he said. He added that after the intense singles match on the first day, he was a bit worried about his physical condition the next day, but it turned out much better than expected.

Zhang Zhizhen stated that his current physical condition is still under observation. "For us, we can perform well for a week, but we hope that after an injury, there will be no pain in the first three months. Occasionally, when training more, there is still some sensation, so we can’t be careless. Regarding tennis, I was happy to win the first match, but I don’t believe it will be that easy to climb back up the rankings. Not everyone is Federer; you can’t just skip half a season and then win the Australian Open right away."

Talking about the recent "One Point Decides" Grand Slam at the Australian Open, Zhang Zhizhen joked that he missed the million-dollar prize because he didn’t know where to register. He shared a video on social media of himself coaching Jay Chou during his free time, after which Jay was eliminated by an ace. "We thought many left-handed players tend to serve with side spin, so we prepared for that. I suggested maybe standing slightly to the left of the usual position when he tosses the ball. At first, there was a bit more open space, and his first-round opponent was tough. That player dared to serve topspin to the wide corner and took advantage of openings. It’s a pity; next time, if I win rock-paper-scissors, I’ll choose to serve."

Jay Chou participating in the "One Point Decides" Grand Slam

During the off-season, Zhang Zhizhen was selected for the ATP Player Council. He mentioned that as a representative of Asian players, he will strive to do more. "There don’t seem to be many players from Asia; only Taro Daniel has done it before. I feel I can try this new term to advocate not only for Asian and Chinese players but also to gain more support for domestic tournaments. Right now, it’s mostly about listening and learning to understand how things work. In the next year or two, I hope to provide some advice, suggestions, and feedback."

At this Australian Open, four Chinese players qualified for the men’s singles main draw, setting a historic record. Regarding the positive momentum in Chinese tennis at the start of the year, Zhang Zhizhen commented: "I feel last year, everyone had their share of injuries, rest periods, or poor performances, which is normal. Maybe it all happened around the same time. So far this year, everyone seems quite healthy and doing well. I hope everyone can stay healthy throughout the year. Even if the results aren’t great, they won’t be too bad."

Zhang Zhizhen during an interview

Besides competing in singles at this Australian Open, Zhang Zhizhen will also partner with Shang Juncheng in men’s doubles. He said they don’t need special practice but will mainly see if it helps prepare for the Davis Cup. About his singles first-round opponent F. Cerundolo, Zhang said: "I only remember playing him once at Wimbledon and once at Eastbourne, both matches on grass. This time it’s on hard court, which will be completely different. Of course, he played very well last year. This year, let’s not talk about him yet, let’s focus on me, prepare well, and work hard." Zhang’s first singles match is scheduled for Sunday on Margaret Court Arena as the second match of the day.

(Article and editing by: Dato)