Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun (盧彥勳) has urged his compatriots to follow his lead and join him in the world’s top 100 after his success in the first week at Wimbledon.
Lu made history when he became the first Taiwanese man to make the fourth round of the singles at a Grand Slam and he hopes the achievement inspires compatriots such as Yang Tsung-hua (楊宗樺) and Chen Ti (陳迪) to carry on.
He will play the US fifth seed Andy Roddick, who beat Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-3, in the next round tomorrow.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Currently Lu, 82nd in the world, is the only Taiwanese player in the top 300, with Yang ranked 313th and Chen 430th — something the top-ranked star wants to change.
“I had the chance to show the Taiwanese people that I can play good tennis,” Lu said. “I hope my result will pump other people up and show them they can also do it in their area. This is the positive thing for everybody.”
“I am the only one in the top 100, but we have four or five around 200, 300 or 400, but not as many as the women,” he said.
“Yang was No. 1 junior two years ago — we have to give him a little bit of time to get into professional tennis. I hope he can come in to play Grand Slams and play big tournaments,” he said.
Lu’s mobile phone was buzzing with messages of congratulation straight after his third round win over Germany’s Florian Mayer on Friday.
The 26-year-old was two sets up and led 2-1 with a break in the third set when Mayer retired with a leg injury.
The result wrote Lu’s name in the Asian tennis history books and he expressed his pride about putting Taiwanese tennis on the map.
“There is probably a lot of news coming out right now in Taiwan. I am happy to have done it for my country, for my family, for my friends and for all the people that have supported me,” he added.
“But I don’t want them to call me the ‘Pride of Taiwan’ or anything — I am the same as I was before,” he said.
Lu has played three-time Wimbledon finalist Roddick twice this season — in Memphis and Indian Wells — both on hard courts and lost both matches in straight sets.
However, he has learned enough from the two clashes to know what he has got to do to extend his golden run at Wimbledon.
“He is a really difficult player,” Lu said. “He has a big serve and he plays very well from the baseline with his chip charge and puts you under pressure.”
“The main point you have to focus on is to stay with him and wait for your chance. If you have a chance to break him you must take it. That is the tough part and you always have the pressure of having to hold your serve to stay with him,” he said.
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