Lu Yen-hsun’s breakthrough performance at Wimbledon, including a high-profile five-set win over American Andy Roddick, has sent his ranking to a career-high and may open up new sponsorship opportunities that have been elusive in the past.
In the new rankings released by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) yesterday, Lu jumped 40 spots to No. 42 after becoming the first Taiwanese player and the first Asian since 1995 to reach the quarter-finals of a grand slam tournament.
Lu’s previous highest ranking had been 55 in April 2009, but he had hovered between about 80 and 100 since October before his unexpected showing at the world’s top grasscourt tournament.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
STRONG PERFORMANCE
At a press conference a day after Lu arrived home in Taiwan on Friday, the 26-year-old said his next goal would be a strong performance in the final grand slam of the year, the US Open, which begins in late August, and cracking the world’s top 20.
Lu visited CPC Corp, Taiwan, yesterday to offer his appreciation for the company’s sponsorship of his career since 2002.
CPC president Chu Shao-hua met with Lu and urged Taiwan’s newest celebrity, who had toiled in relative anonymity since turning pro in 2001, to deliver an even better performance at Flushing Meadows in New York.
On whether Lu’s breakthrough at Wimbledon will lead CPC to increase its sponsorship of the top-50 player, Chu said the company regularly allocated about NT$7 million (US$218,750) each year to sponsor Taiwanese tennis players.
FUNDING
But he said it was not CPC that decided who the recipients would be and how much funding each player received.
“Such decisions are made by the Chinese Taipei Tennis Association and its members, including former Academic Sinica president Yuan-tseh Lee,” Chu said.
Lu has sought more sponsorship opportunities to help with the travel, coaching and other expenses most elite players consider routine on the ATP Tour.
Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) also helps Lu financially, providing NT$2 million a year in sponsorship.
REMARKS
Commenting on remarks made by his fitness trainer, who said in an interview with the China Times that traveling with Lu from tournament to tournament was like being in exile, Lu said that he concurred with the description, but reiterated his passion for tennis.
“I think what he said is right. But from another perspective, it [constant travelling] just shows my passion for tennis,” Lu said. “I enjoy it [playing tennis] very much. It is very challenging.”
Lu also said that he would do his best to win a gold medal if selected to represent the country at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November.
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