Asian Tennis players' thread ...

[Sin Hombre]

It definitely happens with young kids where they have a sudden performance spurt.

I am a bit cynical about tennis' approach towards doping and matchfixing. Especially when it comes to (potentially) marketable players.

[PKBasu]

Yes, I too am ambivalent about this kid's sudden spurt. The Chinese are quite effective at their use of spinach, and perhaps they've now extended it to tennis...

[Sin Hombre]

Shenzhen R2: [Q]Zhizhen Zhang(#495) def. [4] Lorenzi 4-6 6-3 7-6(4)

Now a 20-year old Chinese who was losing in first rounds of CH tournaments consistently has now 4 matches in a trot to get to the QFs of Shenzhen.

[Sin Hombre]

Hyeon Chung with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Mischa Zverev.

[Varma]

Chung is growing stronger and stronger. Next up for him Rafa. It will be a good test to see how he, on his current form, measures up against the best.

- Varma

[knarayen]

Wow beating Mischa Zverev 0 and 2 is a great win. Dont know how these Chinese players are able to improve so consistently.

[Varma]

Wow beating Mischa Zverev 0 and 2 is a great win. Dont know how these Chinese players are able to improve so consistently.

Hyeon Chung is Korean.

- Varma

[knarayen]

Oops...I stand corrected.

[jayakris]

Wow beating Mischa Zverev 0 and 2 is a great win. Dont know how these Chinese players are able to improve so consistently.

Hyeon Chung is Korean.

Some simple rules I have found: If you see the funny vowel "eo" in an Asian name, it is almost surely a Korean. If you see the funny consonant "hs", it is almost surely a Taiwanese. If you see a consonant "ts" it is almost surely a Japanese. If there is an "orn" or "arn" not followed by a consonant, it is very surely a Thai. If there is a "z", "x" or "q" in the name, it is definitely NOT a Korean. If there is an "oo", it is definitely NOT somebody from mainland China.

[prasen9]

Ts can also be Taiwanese. For example, the surname Cai in Chinese is transliterated Tsai in Taiwanese. Zeng in Chinese becomes Tseng in Taiwanese. But yes, a lot of Japanese names start with Ts. These are usually longer than the 4-5 letter Taiwanese names.

[jayakris]

True. Tsai is always Taiwanese. Probably some names like Tseng, too. I think they are an exception in Taiwanese, right? Only used at the start of a word, if I am not mistaken... Of course, the Chinese still have the university name as Tsinghua, but that may be old spellings that was not changed; I don't think they use "ts" in people's names... Again, I need to check.

[Sin Hombre]

Ts can also be Taiwanese. For example, the surname Cai in Chinese is transliterated Tsai in Taiwanese. Zeng in Chinese becomes Tseng in Taiwanese. But yes, a lot of Japanese names start with Ts. These are usually longer than the 4-5 letter Taiwanese names.

Like Tai-tsu Ying.

Korean names are fairly easy to identify given the last names are so limited.

[sameerph]

23 year old Yoshihito Nishioka won an ATP title yesterday in Shenzhen coming thru as a qualifier. It is amazing how many quality players Japan is producing. Nishioka was seriously injured and out of action for more than 6 months last year. Now, he is back in top 100.

[knarayen]

All it takes is for 1-2 players to make a grand slam run like Osaka and nishikori made at the US Open in 2918, others get inspired too. Maybe we will see India surge in our lifetimes before we pass on. Stay optimistic is my motto.

[Atithee]

All it takes is for 1-2 players to make a grand slam run like Osaka and nishikori made at the US Open in 2918, others get inspired too. Maybe we will see India surge in our lifetimes before we pass on. Stay optimistic is my motto.

Yes, by 2918 as you say