Differing from his countrymen Boris Becker or Tommy Hass or who established themselves at an early age, Rainer Schuettler has not achieved anything of note until he notched up the victory in Shanghai in 2001 at 25.
However, the German veteran, known as the most plain and diligent player on the ATP Tour, already became one of the hottest topics in the city before the China Open began on Friday.
The 28-year-old caused something of disturbance when he arrived at the Beijing Tennis Centre on Saturday with his coach and was immediately crowded by fans.
"Chinese fans are really good, they picked me up in the airport and I feel I am welcomed everywhere, which makes me so comfortable," Schuettler said with a smile.
His brilliant professional career began in China when he won his first ATP title in the Shanghai Heiheken Open in 2001, so the country has fond associations for him.
"I went to Shanghai in 2001 and won the championship in Tokyo last year, and this is my first, as well as the last tournament in Asia this year, so I am fully concentrating on the tournament," Schuettler grinned. "Furthermore, I always like Chinese food."
As the highest ranked German player at 23 in the ATP rankings, Schuettler has been in a low form prior to arriving in Beijing -- the former Australian Open finalist had a poor showing in the Grand Slams this year as he was ushered out by Robin Soderling in the first round in Melbourne, suffering similar early exits in Roland Carros and Flushing Meadows.
Spending a miserable season, Schuettler will need a dramatic improvement and he believed that he had got back his form.
"I am on very good form now and I just feel relaxed so I think I can play better in the tournament," he said.
Dirk Hordorff, Schuettler's coach, had words of praise for the tournament's organizing work. "China Open is professionally organized," Hordorff told reporters.
"The surface of every court is well laid, so the ball speed in different courts is all the same. That is very important for a professional tournament, otherwise an unstable ball speed and flexibility will have a certain influence on players' performance."
As to the weather, he said: "It is not too hot and wind is not too strong, all good for a tennis tournament.
"However, every tournament has some elements for us to get used to. We have to get up a bit earlier because of time difference between Beijing and Frankfurt and we have been trying to adjust ourselves to playing good matches here in Beijing."
Schuettler will face Australia's Paul Baccanello in the first round.
"Although I've never faced him before, I will try my best in the first match," said the German fourth seed.
As the only player to have won a title in China, Schuettler is ready to repeat his Chinese fortune.
"I'm here early to get well prepared and I hope I can go as far as possible."
The tournament's top seed Carlos Moya of Spain takes on a qualifier in the first round.
Second seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, also from Spain, has been drawn to play American Justin Gimelstob. Fifth-seeded Marat Safin of Russia faces Alex Bogomolov Jr of the United States.
Argentina's third seed David Nalbandian is up against Denmark's Kristian Pless.
Three wild cards were given out to the Chinese players, with Wang Yu playing Slovakian veteran Dominik Hrbaty, Zhu Benqiang squaring off with Lu Yen-Hsun, a rising star from the Chinese Taipei and Lu Hao taking on a qualifier.
(China Daily September 13, 2004)
