This was an exchange in the Tennis Channel commentary booth during the China Open quarterfinals:
Mark Petchey – “A few weeks ago they were saying ‘Bu who?’”
Paul Annacone – “Now his opponents are saying ‘Bu hoo.’”
That pretty much sums up the rapid rise of Bu Yunchaokete, who was relatively unknown on tour heading into the 2024 campaign. At No. 171 in the world when the season began, he is now inside the top 100 at 96th and will climb to at least 69th when the next rankings come out.
So, who is Bu?
He is 22-year-old from China whose official Mongolian name is Buyunchaokete (however, he goes by either Bu or his American nickname, Bert). He played his first professional match in 2019 but really started his career in 2022. Although Bu won 87 matches on the Futures and Challenger circuits during that 2022 season, going into 2024 he had picked up just a single victory at the ATP level (via retirement against Miomir Kecmanovic at the 2023 Shanghai Masters). In fact, prior to this current fall swing he still had not won another ATP-level match.
Suddenly, Bu has caught fire. He won a Davis Cup singles rubber for China earlier this month, upset Karen Khachanov en route to the Hangzhou ATP 250 semifinals, and now finds himself in another semifinal–this time at the ATP 500 level. Bu’s China Open run has come thanks to victories over Chengdu champion Jerry Shang, world No. 18 Lorenzo Musetti, and world No. 6 Andrey Rublev.
Next up for Bu is none other than top seed, world No. 1, and two-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner.
Chances are good, of course, that Sinner won’t be saying “Bu hoo” on Tuesday. Regardless, though, there will be no more questions of “Bu who.”
