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Being Chinese
What’s so Chinese about US Open tennis players like Zheng Qinwen?
From afar, Chinese tennis stars can appear as a cohort, their names accompanied by the same flag. Up close, they’re nothing like one another
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Xiong Yang is an independent journalist covering food, and its broader connections to culture, history and politics.
“Woo-hoooo!” The cheers swirled as Wu Yibing ended the rally with a blistering forehand winner down the line. The first syllable was emphatically articulated, signalling that this was an intentional play on Wu’s last name, not a random shout after one too many honey deuces.
It was Wu’s second-round match against Australian James Duckworth at the US Open earlier this month. Wu’s most vocal supporters turned out to be three white Americans sitting behind the baseline.
Widely considered the most talented Chinese man on tour, Wu is the first Chinese player to have won an ATP Tour title. Although his career has been plagued by injury, he can deliver inspired tennis when healthy. Against Duckworth, he was proactive in redirecting balls. The seemingly straightforward shots were risky and required an exquisite touch.
Wu is perpetually online when he is not on court and has endeared himself to his fans on RedNote (Xiaohongshu). When an earnest post asked whether any good-looking players were left in the draw after Briton Jack Draper withdrew, Wu resolutely answered in the comments: “Me.” Following his first-round win, he leaned into the gag by posting a spoof press release referring to himself as “Chinese hunk Wu Yibing”.
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