Zhang Zhizhen of China hits a return to Ugo Humbert of France during the second round match of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan 18, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

MELBOURNE - China's top-ranked male tennis player, Zhang Zhizhen, has been knocked out of the Australian Open in the second round.

Zhang was beaten 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 by French 21st seed Ugo Humbert in two hours and 50 minutes on Thursday night at Melbourne Park.

The world number 54, who was playing in the second round at the Australian Open for the first time in his career, overcame losing five of the first six games of the match to make it competitive but was ultimately outplayed by Humbert.

The French player hit 15 more winners for the match than Zhang as well as two fewer unforced errors and converted 56 percent of his break point chances compared to Zhang's 29 percent.

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Ugo Humbert of France hits a return to Zhang Zhizhen of China during the second round match of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan 18, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

After the second set reached 5-5 on serve Zhang broke Humbert's serve for the first time to take a 6-5 lead and leveled the match.

In the third set Humbert was at his best, losing only 13 points in total en route to claiming it in 35 minutes.

Despite winning only two points on his first serve in the entire third set, Zhang was able to turn it around during the break and win 19 in the third set as every game went on serve until the tiebreak.

Zhang, who won two tiebreaks in his first round match against Argentina's Federico Coria, was unable to do so again, falling behind 2-6 before Humbert converted his second match point.

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Humbert will play either ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland or Czech qualifier Jakub Mesik in the third round.