CHINA’S Zhang Ze notched his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title, overcoming Vasek Pospisil of Canada 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in San Francisco, the United States, on Sunday.

    It was China’s second Challenger Tour title. Wu Di claimed the nation’s first ATP Challenger Tour title in Maui, the United States, one year ago.

    Behind a bevy of monster forehands and lightning-fast agility, Zhang rang in the inaugural event in San Francisco with a bang, notching seven wins in eight days to lift the trophy as a qualifier, overturning an 0-3 mark in Challenger finals in his career to finally claim victory.

    The Nanjing native is the first qualifier winner of the year on the ATP Challenger Tour. He is projected to rise 37 spots to No. 158 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, just 10 places off his career-high.

    Zhang is China’s highest-ranked male singles player. His career highlights include reaching the quarterfinals of the 2012 China Open (defeating Richard Gasquet en route), playing the Australian Open main draw on two consecutive occasions (2014 and 2015), and teaming up with Roger Federer to play doubles at the 2013 Shanghai Rolex Masters.(SD-Agencies)