Zhang Zhizhen of China returns the ball during the men's singles final of tennis between Zhang Zhizhen of China and Watanuki Yosuke of Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Sept 30, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HANGZHOU - Local favorite Zhang Zhizhen beat Japan's Yosuke Watanuki 6-4, 7-6(7) at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Saturday to capture China's first men's singles gold medal in nearly three decades.

Zhang Zhizhen of China celebrates after the men's singles final of tennis between Zhang Zhizhen of China and Watanuki Yosuke of Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Sept 30, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Pan Bing won the men's title for China at 1990 and 1994 Asian Games.

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Another Chinese player Wu Yibing, silver medalist at Jakarta 2018, suffered an early exit after a shock third-round defeat on Tuesday.