Monte Carlo serves up boost for Bu

With the swing to clay courts, rising Chinese star Buyunchaokete is quickly finding his feet on the ATP Tour

Such a pity, but what an effort — China's rising tennis star Buyunchaokete might have narrowly missed out on delivering another huge upset at his clay Masters debut, but has served up plenty of positive spin, as his upswing on the men's pro circuit continues apace.

Known in China as "Xiao Bu", transliterated as "baby step" in English, Buyunchaokete has made his presence felt on the ATP Tour, with a series of breakout results since fall last year helping him leapfrog up the rankings, and the 22-year-old baseliner is showing no sign of slowing down this season.

And he was so close on Monday to backing up his recent surge with another shock result.