'Duck' Alcaraz and 'Cow' Federer: China tennis fans delight in nicknames

Fans think Carlos Alcaraz's mouth, resemble that of a duck-billed platypus while Roger Federer's gentle and mellow, like that of a cow, inspired his nickname. (Image credit: AFP)

The tennis world is in China this month with fans getting the chance to cheer on some of the sport's biggest stars.

Chinese fans often give popular players nicknames, usually puns based on a Chinese transliteration of their names.

This works particularly well because the Chinese language is made up of a large number of homophonic syllables, allowing for a wide range of cheeky double entendres.

Here are some of the most popular:

- Carlos Alcaraz: 'Duck' -

The world number one may have modelled for Louis Vuitton and Calvin Klein, but in China Alcaraz is named for a creature not exactly known for its looks -- the duck-billed platypus.

Fans think his facial features, especially his mouth, resemble that of the Australian mammal.

For short, he is known as "Duck".

- Novak Djokovic: 'Chicken' -

The 24-time Grand Slam champion also has an ornithological nickname, "Chicken" , or "De Ji" in Chinese.

While it may sound unflattering, Djokovic might find its origin more comforting than Alcaraz's nickname.

It was coined years ago when the now 38-year-old was at the peak of his powers -- in Chinese, the phrase "hot chicken" is used to describe a new sensation.

The sound "De Ji" also mimics the "DJ" at the beginning of the tennis star's surname.

- Aryna Sabalenka: 'Fried Rice Queen' -

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka has several sobriquets in China.

"China's Daughter" comes from her impressive performances in the country, as well as her popularity with fans.

"Tiger Girl" is based not just on her aggressive style of play, but also the fact she was born in 1998, the year of the tiger in the Chinese zodiac. She also sports a tiger tattoo on her arm.

She is also the "Fried Rice Queen" for her love of the dish, which she has jokingly said gives her power.

- Iga Swiatek: 'Silk Socks' -

World number two Iga Swiatek is "Silk Socks" -- that's because "si wa" in Mandarin sounds like the "Swia" at the beginning of her surname.

China Open champion Amanda Anisimova is known as "Medicine Sister" because the beginning of her surname, Anisimo, sounds very similar to the Chinese word for antibiotic Amoxicillin.

Madison Keys is "Key Sister" -- the literal translation of her surname.

- 'Big Rich, Second Rich' -

The United States' 31-year-old Jessica Pegula is "Dafu", which translates to "Big Rich" in Chinese.

Fans call 24-year-old compatriot Emma Navarro the Chinese equivalent of "Second Rich", a nod to the billionaire families of both players.

- Daniil Medvedev: 'Prime Minister' -

Medvedev is known as "Prime Minister" because he shares a surname with former Russian premier Dmitry Medvedev.

World number three Alexander Zverev is named for a princess in a popular TV drama.

Her name, "Ziwei", sounds similar to the transliteration of his surname.

- Roger Federer: 'Cow' -
No longer an active player but still beloved in China -- he will play an exhibition match at the Shanghai Masters on Friday -- Federer is known as "Cow".

The moniker stems from a Swiss tournament twice gifting him one of the animals --  Juliette in 2003 and Desiree in 2013.

Fans also say his personality -- gentle and mellow -- is similar to that of a cow.