China’s rising tennis star Buyunchaokete aims for a spot in the world’s top 50 in 2025 after a breakthrough season.
Fresh from his performance at the Delray Beach Open in the U.S., 23-year-old Chinese tennis talent Buyunchaokete, known as “Xiao Bu,” is now focused on the clay courts of the Rio Open.
The busy schedule reflects his ambitious goal: “My target this year is to break into the world’s top 50,” he told Xinhua.
Ranked No. 69 in the world, Buyunchaokete made history at the 2024 China Open by becoming the first player from the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) to reach the men’s singles semifinals.
“Breaking into the top 50 is my priority, and I’m planning my tournaments to achieve this,” he explained.
Despite the exhausting flight from the U.S. to Brazil, Buyunchaokete showed great form in practice.
“The jet lag isn’t a problem. I feel physically ready and comfortable adapting to clay,” said Xiao Bu, who will face a tough challenge in his Rio debut against world No. 2 Alexander Zverev. This will be their first-ever meeting.
At last year’s China Open, Buyunchaokete proved his resilience against top opponents, including surprising Paris Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti and fourth-seeded Andrey Rublev. Though he lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, he pushed Sinner to a tiebreak in the second set, showing his strength under pressure.
“Competing against top players is why I’m here. It’s part of my ATP Tour journey,” Xiao Bu said. “Last week, I played against world No. 4 Taylor Fritz in Delray Beach, and now it’s Zverev in Rio. These challenges excite me, and I will bring my best.”
Reflecting on China’s rise in tennis, Buyunchaokete expressed confidence in the country’s growing influence on the global stage.
“Our athletes have shown we belong here. I hope my journey inspires more young players to take up tennis. Continuous progress will help nurture future talents with greater confidence,” Buyunchaokete said.
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