Tsitsipas Upset by China’s Bu Yunchaokete at Winston-Salem Open
In a stunning upset at the 2025 Winston-Salem Open, Chinese tennis player Bu Yunchaokete, at just 23 years old, defeated the top seed and former Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round with a score of 6-3, 6-2. This victory marks a significant moment in the young player’s career, and here are some fun facts about the rising star.
Born on January 19, 2002, in Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, China, Bu Yunchaokete is an emerging talent who has been steadily climbing the ranks of professional tennis. His career-high singles ranking of No. 64 was achieved on April 14, 2025. This victory over Tsitsipas, who was ranked No. 28, is a career-best, marking his 10th tour-level victory in the 2025 season.
The match lasted just one hour and 28 minutes, and Yunchaokete’s aggressive play left Tsitsipas with 33 unforced errors, while the Chinese player only had 11. He was particularly effective on return, winning 74% of his second-serve return points and breaking Tsitsipas’s serve five times.
Before this big win, Yunchaokete had already made a name for himself. He is the youngest Chinese player to win multiple Challenger titles, securing victories at the 2023 Seoul Open, the 2024 Wuxi Open in China, and the 2024 Championnats de Granby in Canada. His success in 2024 was particularly notable, as he reached back-to-back ATP Tour semifinals, including one where he upset Andrey Rublev, who was ranked No. 6 at the time.
A right-handed player with a two-handed backhand, Yunchaokete’s tennis idol is Andy Murray, and his favorite surface is grass. Outside of tennis, he enjoys football, and his hero is the legendary Lionel Messi.
His professional journey began in January 2022, and he has consistently been a player to watch. He made his ATP Tour debut at the 2023 ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai, where he earned his first Masters win. This win against Tsitsipas is a major step forward, demonstrating his potential to compete with the sport’s elite. Yunchaokete is currently ranked No. 76 in the ATP Rankings, and this victory is sure to boost his confidence as he continues his run at the Winston-Salem Open. He will face Mariano Navone in the next round.
