China's Buyunchaokete hits a forehand return to Italy's Jannik Sinner during a China Open semifinal match at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, on Oct 1. [Photo/Reuters]

After competing in multiple tournaments during the China season, rising Chinese tennis star Buyunchaokete, known as Bu to his growing legion of fans, has returned to Hangzhou, where his tennis journey began, for a brief rest. He will soon head to Kazakhstan for the next round of competitions.

Following his impressive performance this year, Bu, who has already broken into the global top 100, shared in an interview on Oct 9 that his next goal is to reach the top 50.

This year, Bu claimed his first Grand Slam match victory during the French Open singles qualifiers. In August, he advanced to the main draw of the US Open after winning three consecutive qualifying matches. In September, he reached the semifinals at the ATP Hangzhou Open. His breakthrough continued at the China Open, where he defeated fourth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals, becoming the first Chinese player to reach the men's singles semifinals of the tournament. This achievement boosted him to a career-high world ranking of 69.

The 22-year-old, born in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has trained in Zhejiang since he was five and considers Hangzhou his second home. "I have a deep connection to this city and will continue to base myself here," he said.

Bu also spoke about the growing popularity of tennis in China, which has inspired more young players to take up the sport. "The tennis path isn't easy," he advised, "but it's important for young players to find their own style and enjoy the game."

While in Hangzhou, Bu signed a partnership with ROGT to help promote tennis in China and inspire more people to take up the sport.

Bu signs a partnership with ROGT to help promote tennis in China and inspire more people to take up the sport. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]