"The baby is still very young... This is new for me" - Zhang Zhizhen reflects on fatherhood, traveling to tournaments with his 1-month-old child

Zhang Zhizhen opened up about fatherhood and the possibility of traveling with his one-month-old child ahead of the 2024 China Open. The Chinese player will participate in the ATP 500 event just days after finishing runner-up in Hangzhou.

During a press conference ahead of the China Open, Zhang was asked if he would consider bringing his child on the tour. The 27-year-old stated that his child is still very young but they might consider traveling to Shanghai with the baby.

"The baby is still very young, one month old. We do not have any plans of taking the baby on the road. Shanghai next week we might consider it because we have some friends coming in," Zhang Zhizhen said.

However, for tournaments further away from their home in China, Zhang dismissed the possibility of traveling with his child for now.

"For now, other tournaments in Europe, we wouldn't take the baby. The earliest might be the Australian Open next year. This is one option, to have the baby around us. It is one way to see the baby grow up. I think some of the athletes have done this. This is a new thing for me. I would love to try it," he added.

Zhang prefers to keep his personal life private, with his Instagram focused on tennis and sponsored posts. However, it's known that he married in December 2022, and some wedding photos can be seen below.

Zhang reached his first tour-level final at the Hangzhou Open but lost to Marin Cilic. He now continues his home stretch by competing in the China Open.

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"It's a bit sad at the moment" - Zhang Zhizhen opens up on participating in China Open 2024 after Hangzhou heartbreak

Zhang Zhizhen (L) and Qinwen Zheng at the Opening Ceremony of the China Open (Image: Getty)

Zhang Zhizhen is one of the most prolific Chinese male tennis stars. He has multiple national records to his name, including being the first Chinese man to break into the Top 100 and the first Chinese man to reach a Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

Most recently, he became the first Chinese man to reach a Tour-level final in Hangzhou. Zhang defeated Yunchaokete Bu in an all-Chinese semifinal to achieve the feat. However, he faced a 7-6(5), 7-6(5) loss in the final of the ATP 250 event against Marin Cilic.

Soon after the loss, Zhang traveled to Beijing to participate in the China Open. During a press conference ahead of the ATP 500 event, he stated that he was sad at the moment.

"China Open for me, I don't know what to say. Just coming from Hangzhou, I know it's the first time I lost the final, missed the final there. It's a bit sad at the moment," Zhang Zhizhen said.

"For me it's still a good week. I'm still looking forward from here. Tennis, always losing. Most of the time in tennis you're losing, then you finish the week, right? You're not winning every week. There's only one player [who] can win in the end," he added.

The 27-year-old will begin his campaign in Beijing against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Friday, September 27. This will be the first meeting between the pair on the tour.