Hangzhou Tennis Championships: Huang Zelin Advances to Main Draw

In an impressive turn of events, Huang Zelin, the Mongolian-born Chinese tennis player, has successfully advanced to the top 32 in the main draw of the ATP 250 Hangzhou Tennis Open. Demonstrating his tenacity and skill, he emerged victorious against Terigele with a 2:1 win in the men’s second round qualifier.

Huang Zelin, who made waves last year by reaching the top 8 in the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, has returned to this familiar ground with renewed vigor. As the No. 4 seed in the qualifying rounds, he started strong by defeating China’s Xiao Linang 2:0 in the first round.

Earlier this year, Huang made his debut on the ATP Tour at the Hong Kong Open, where he participated as a “wild card” entrant. This tournament marks a significant milestone for him as it is the first time he has qualified for the main draw through the rigorous qualifying rounds based on his world ranking.

In the first round of the main draw, Huang Zelin is set to face Chinese tennis star Wu Yibing once again. Their last encounter was during the top 16 of the Asian Games in Hangzhou a year ago. In that match, Huang took an early lead with a 6:3 win in the first set but ultimately succumbed to Wu in the second set, evening the score at 6:3.

Wu Yibing, whose career-high ranking has climbed to 54th in the world, received a “wild card” entry into this competition after a six-month hiatus from professional play.

Reflecting on his journey, Huang Zelin expressed his deep connection to Hangzhou, referring to it as a “wonderful country” where he hopes to create yet another remarkable achievement. He shared his enthusiasm and anticipation for this race before departing for Hangzhou a few days ago.

As Huang Zelin continues his journey in the ATP 250 Hangzhou Tennis Open, all eyes are on him to see if he can replicate or surpass his previous successes and carve out a new chapter in his burgeoning tennis career.