Buyunchaoket set a record and entered the semi-finals of the China Open, facing the world No. 1 in the semi-finals

In an exhilarating moment at the 2024 China Open, wildcard entrant Bu Yunchaokete made history by defeating fourth-seeded Russian sensation Andrey Rublev with a score of 2-0 (7-5, 6-4) in the men’s singles quarterfinals. This victory is significant, as it marks the first time a Chinese player has reached the semifinals of the men’s singles at the China Open.

Just last week in Hangzhou, Bu captured attention by reaching the semifinals of an ATP tour event for the first time in his career. Riding that wave of momentum, he faced fellow Chinese player Shang Juncheng in the opening round and emerged victorious, overcoming Shang’s recent success at the Chengdu Open. Before that, Bu stunned the tennis world by eliminating sixth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who had previously won a bronze medal in men’s singles at the Paris Olympics.

As Bu entered the quarterfinals against Rublev, the first set was a nail-biting affair with both competitors trading games. A pivotal moment came during the eleventh game when Bu seized the chance to break Rublev’s serve, ultimately clinching the first set. Both players had their chances to break serve, but it was Bu who capitalized on his opportunity.

The second set highlighted Bu’s growing confidence and skill as he broke Rublev’s serve once again. Despite Rublev’s determination to regain control, Bu remained relentless, sealing the match with a final score of 7-5, 6-4.

For the 22-year-old, 2024 has been a groundbreaking year—marking his debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam, reaching ATP tour semifinals, and breaking into the top 100 rankings for the first time. Following this match, Bu’s ranking soared to a career-high 69, and he has now set his sights on cracking the top 50.

Looking ahead to his next challenge against top seed and current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, scheduled for October 1 at 7 PM, Bu expressed his excitement: “No matter who I’m up against, playing against the world No. 1 is always special. Sinner is an outstanding player and represents our generation. My goal is to enjoy the match and showcase my best performance.”