# Zhang Nan (badminton)

Zhang Nan (simplified Chinese: 张楠; traditional Chinese: 張楠; pinyin: Zhāng Nán; born 1 March 1990) is a retired Chinese badminton player who specializes in both men's and mixed doubles. He found much success in mixed doubles with his former partner Zhao Yunlei. They won gold in 2012 Summer Olympics, 3 golds in BWF World Championships in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and a gold at the 2014 Asian Games. Having won all major events as a pair, they are considered one of the most successful mixed doubles pairs of all time. Zhang Nan himself is considered to be one of the all-time greats of badminton.
Having found huge success in mixed doubles with Zhao, Zhang partnered Fu Haifeng with whom he won gold in 2016 Summer Olympics. After this, Fu retired and Zhang partnered Liu Cheng and became World Champion in the men's doubles at the 2017 BWF World Championships.

## Career

Zhang Nan is a badminton player who has achieved success in both men's and mixed doubles. In the men's doubles he has been paired with Chai Biao, Fu Haifeng, Lu Kai, Liu Cheng and Ou Xuanyi; while in the mixed doubles he has been paired with Lu Lu, Tang Jinhua, Zhao Yunlei and Li Yinhui.

### 2010

He participated in the 2010 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur, playing for China. He also played in 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Zhang has achieved one of the three most prestigious badminton titles, winning the All England Open that year with Zhao Yunlei, winning over Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia, 21–18, 23–25, 21–18, the first pair to win the title as qualifiers.
Zhang has a larger achievement with Zhao in the mixed doubles event rather than with Chai. Zhang and Zhao won the Japan Open title, beating compatriots Tao Jiaming and Tian Qing in the final, 21–19, 22–20. Meanwhile, Zhang and Chai's journey in Tokyo was ended by seniors Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng in the semi-finals, losing 17–21 and 16–21.
In China Open, Zhang attended the men's and mixed doubles finals but he lost in both events. In the men's doubles, South Korea's Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae emerged as the winners as they downed Zhang and Chai in straight sets, 21–15 and 21–12. In the mixed doubles final, Tao Jiaming and Tian Qing took revenge with a 21–18, 21–17 triumph over Zhang and Zhao.
Zhang only played in mixed doubles in the last Super Series tournament of 2010, Hong Kong Open. Seeded fifth, he and Zhao reached the final but lost in a long three-set match against Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark 20–22, 21–14, and 20–22.

### 2011

Zhang and Zhao were qualified to play in the 2010 Super Series Finals Taiwan. They became the winner by beating Thailand's Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam 21–17, 21–12 in the final. Zhang and Chai also played in the Super Series Finals, yet both were conquered by Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae in the last four 15–21 and 11–21 in just 30 minutes.
Once again, Zhang and Zhao met Tao Jiaming and Tian Qing, now in Korea Open final. Zhang and Zhao vanquished their teammates 21–17, 13–21, and 21–19 to become the first winners of a Super Series Premier.

### 2012

In July–August at the London Olympics, he won the gold medal at the mixed doubles event with Zhao Yunlei, beating compatriots Xu Chen and Ma Jin in the gold medal match, 21–11, 21–17.

### 2016

At the 2016 Olympics, Zhang and Zhao, the defending champions in the mixed doubles event, lost in the semi-final, but successfully clinched a bronze medal after winning a rematch of the last edition's final, beating Xu Chen and Ma Jin in straight games again. On the other hand, Zhang won the gold medal with Fu Haifeng in the men's doubles event, beating Malaysians Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong in a tightly-fought match, 16–21, 21–11, 23–21. They saved two gold medal points during the third game, and eventually converted one on their first opportunity.

### 2017

Zhang won the World Championships in the men's doubles event with Liu Cheng, defeating Indonesians Mohammad Ahsan and Rian Agung Saputro in the final, 21–10, 21–17 to win the gold medal.

### 2022: Resignation from the Chinese national badminton team

Zhang announced his resignation from the Chinese national team in late August on his Weibo account, stating that he would continue to play badminton as an independent player with the permission of the Chinese Badminton Association.

### 2023

Zhang made his return to the international badminton circuit as an independent player by participating in the men's and mixed doubles events in the 2023 Ruichang China Masters.

## Achievements
### Olympic Games

Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2016 | Riocentro - Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Fu Haifeng | Goh V Shem Tan Wee Kiong | 16–21, 21–11, 23–21 | Gold |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2012 | Wembley Arena, London, Great Britain | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–11, 21–17 | Gold |
| 2016 | Riocentro - Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–7, 21–11 | Bronze |

### BWF World Championships

Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2017 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland | Liu Cheng | Mohammad Ahsan Rian Agung Saputro | 21–10, 21–17 | Gold |
| 2018 | Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park, Nanjing, China | Liu Cheng | Li Junhui Liu Yuchen | 15–21, 13–21 | Bronze |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2011 | Wembley Arena, London, England | Zhao Yunlei | Chris Adcock Imogen Bankier | 21–15, 21–7 | Gold |
| 2013 | Tianhe Sports Center, Guangzhou, China | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Lilyana Natsir | 21–15, 18–21, 13-21 | Bronze |
| 2014 | Ballerup Super Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–12, 21–23, 21–13 | Gold |
| 2015 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Zhao Yunlei | Liu Cheng Bao Yixin | 21–17, 21–11 | Gold |
| 2018 | Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park, Nanjing, China | Li Yinhui | Zheng Siwei Huang Yaqiong | 21–19, 12–21, 10–21 | Bronze |

### Asian Games

Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2010 | Tianhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China | Zhao Yunlei | Shin Baek-cheol Lee Hyo-jung | 19–21, 14–21 | Silver |
| 2014 | Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 21–16, 21–14 | Gold |

### Asian Championships

Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2011 | Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China | Xu Chen | Cai Yun Fu Haifeng | 19–21, 15–21 | Bronze |
| 2016 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Fu Haifeng | Li Junhui Liu Yuchen | 21–23, 19–21 | Bronze |
| 2018 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Liu Cheng | Takeshi Kamura Keigo Sonoda | 21–14, 12–21, 23–25 | Bronze |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2011 | Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 15–21, 21–15, 25–23 | Gold |
| 2012 | Qingdao Sports Centre Conson Stadium, Qingdao, China | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–13, 21–12 | Gold |
| 2013 | Taipei Arena, Taipei, Taiwan | Zhao Yunlei | Ko Sung-hyun Kim Ha-na | 20–22, 17–21 | Silver |
| 2016 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 16–21, 21–9, 21–17 | Gold |
| 2018 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Li Yinhui | Wang Yilyu Huang Dongping | 21–18, 18–21, 17–21 | Bronze |

### East Asian Games

Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2009 | Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Hong Kong | Chai Biao | Chen Hung-ling Lin Yu-lang | 18–21, 16–21 | Bronze |

### BWF World Junior Championships

Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2008 | Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Badminton Hall, Pune, India | Lu Lu | Chai Biao Xie Jing | 19–21, 15–21 | Silver |

### Asian Junior Championships

Boys' doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2007 | Stadium Juara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Qiu Zihan | Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid Tan Wee Kiong | 10–21, 13–21 | Bronze |
| 2008 | Stadium Juara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Chai Biao | Mak Hee Chun Teo Kok Siang | 17–21, 18–21 | Bronze |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2008 | Stadium Juara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Lu Lu | Kim Ki-jung Eom Hye-won | 14–21, 21–15, 24–22 | Gold |

### BWF World Tour (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018, is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2019 | Akita Masters | Super 100 | Ou Xuanyi | Akira Koga Taichi Saito | 21–14, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2019 | Indonesia Masters | Super 100 | Ou Xuanyi | Akira Koga Taichi Saito | 11–21, 21–10, 22–20 | Winner |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2018 | China Open | Super 1000 | Li Yinhui | Zheng Siwei Huang Yaqiong | 16–21, 9–21 | Runner-up |

### BWF Superseries (31 titles, 15 runners-up)

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007, was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011. Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2010 | China Open | Chai Biao | Jung Jae-sung Lee Yong-dae | 15–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
| 2012 | China Masters | Chai Biao | Hiroyuki Endo Kenichi Hayakawa | 21–18, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2014 | Denmark Open | Fu Haifeng | Lee Yong-dae Yoo Yeon-seong | 21–13, 25–23 | Winner |
| 2015 | All England Open | Fu Haifeng | Mathias Boe Carsten Mogensen | 17–21, 20–22 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Singapore Open | Fu Haifeng | Angga Pratama Ricky Karanda Suwardi | 15–21, 21–11, 14–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Indonesia Open | Fu Haifeng | Ko Sung-hyun Shin Baek-cheol | 16–21, 21–16, 19–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Japan Open | Fu Haifeng | Lee Yong-dae Yoo Yeon-seong | 19–21, 27–29 | Runner-up |
| 2016 | Singapore Open | Fu Haifeng | Takeshi Kamura Keigo Sonoda | 21–11, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2017 | Denmark Open | Liu Cheng | Marcus Fernaldi Gideon Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo | 21–16, 22–24, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2017 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | Liu Cheng | Marcus Fernaldi Gideon Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo | 16–21, 15–21 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2010 | All England Open | Zhao Yunlei | Nova Widianto Liliyana Natsir | 21–18, 23–25, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2010 | Japan Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tao Jiaming Tian Qing | 21–19, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2010 | China Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tao Jiaming Tian Qing | 18–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
| 2010 | Hong Kong Open | Zhao Yunlei | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 20–22, 21–14, 20–22 | Runner-up |
| 2010 | World Superseries Finals | Zhao Yunlei | Sudket Prapakamol Saralee Thungthongkam | 21–17, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2011 | Korea Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tao Jiaming Tian Qing | 21–17, 13–21, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2011 | Indonesia Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 20–22, 21–14, 21–9 | Winner |
| 2011 | Hong Kong Open | Zhao Yunlei | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 15–21, 21–17, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2011 | China Open | Zhao Yunlei | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 21–11, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2011 | World Superseries Finals | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–13, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2012 | Malaysia Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–12, 21–9 | Winner |
| 2012 | Hong Kong Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–17, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2012 | World Superseries Finals | Zhao Yunlei | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 21–17, 12–21, 14–21 | Runner-up |
| 2013 | Korea Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 13–21, 21–16, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2013 | All England Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 13–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
| 2013 | Indonesia Open | Zhao Yunlei | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 24–22, 20–22, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2013 | China Masters | Zhao Yunlei | Yoo Yeon-seong Eom Hye-won | 21–18, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2013 | Japan Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | Walkover | Winner |
| 2013 | Denmark Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 21–11, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2013 | French Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 28–26, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2013 | World Superseries Finals | Zhao Yunlei | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 21–12, 19–21, 10–21 | Runner-up |
| 2014 | Korea Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–18, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2014 | All England Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 13–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
| 2014 | Japan Open | Zhao Yunlei | Michael Fuchs Birgit Michels | 21–12, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2014 | China Open | Zhao Yunlei | Yoo Yeon-seong Eom Hye-won | 23–25, 21–14, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2014 | Hong Kong Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–14, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2014 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | Zhao Yunlei | Liu Cheng Bao Yixin | 21–15, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2015 | All England Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 21–10, 21–10 | Winner |
| 2015 | Malaysia Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 21–16, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2015 | Singapore Open | Zhao Yunlei | Lu Kai Huang Yaqiong | Walkover | Winner |
| 2015 | Indonesia Open | Zhao Yunlei | Xu Chen Ma Jin | 17–21, 16–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Japan Open | Zhao Yunlei | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 21–17, 18–21, 21–23 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Korea Open | Zhao Yunlei | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 21–16, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2015 | China Open | Zhao Yunlei | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 21–19, 17–21, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2015 | Hong Kong Open | Zhao Yunlei | Liu Cheng Bao Yixin | 21–17, 17–21, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2016 | China Open | Li Yinhui | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | 13–21, 22–20, 16–21 | Runner-up |
    Superseries Finals Tournament
    Superseries Premier Tournament
    Superseries Tournament

### BWF Grand Prix (7 titles, 4 runners-up)

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2010 | German Open | Chai Biao | Chen Hung-ling Lin Yu-lang | 17–21, 21–13, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2014 | Swiss Open | Fu Haifeng | Chai Biao Hong Wei | 20–22, 14–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Chinese Taipei Open | Fu Haifeng | Marcus Fernaldi Gideon Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo | 21–13, 21–8 | Winner |
| 2016 | Macau Open | Lu Kai | Lee Jhe-huei Lee Yang | 21–17, 18–21, 19–21 | Runner-up |
| 2017 | Swiss Open | Liu Cheng | Chai Biao Hong Wei | 21–13, 16–21, 15–21 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2009 | Philippines Open | Lu Lu | Chen Zhiben Zhang Jinkang | 22–20, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2010 | Bitburger Open | Zhao Yunlei | Michael Fuchs Birgit Overzier | 22–20, 21–9 | Winner |
| 2013 | Swiss Open | Tang Jinhua | Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen | 20–22, 19–21 | Runner-up |
| 2016 | Macau Open | Li Yinhui | Tang Chun Man Tse Ying Suet | 21–19, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2017 | Thailand Masters | Li Yinhui | Dechapol Puavaranukroh Sapsiree Taerattanachai | 21–11, 20–22, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2017 | German Open | Li Yinhui | Lu Kai Huang Yaqiong | 22–20, 21–11 | Winner |
    BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
    BWF Grand Prix tournament

### BWF International Challenge/Series (1 title)

Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2019 | Belarus International | Ou Xuanyi | Matthew Clare Max Flynn | 21–15, 21–15 | Winner |
    BWF International Challenge tournament
    BWF International Series tournament
    BWF Future Series tournament

## Personal life

He started a relationship with his mixed doubles partner Zhao Yunlei in 2010. However, before 2016 Summer Olympics, Zhao Yunlei announced that she and Zhang Nan were no longer together. He later married another Chinese badminton player Tian Qing in November 2018.