At the WTA Berlin Open, Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu has made a breakthrough by reaching her maiden grass-court semifinal! In a stunning turnaround from an earlier clash at the Australian Open, the 23-year-old delivered a dominant performance against Spain's World No. 10 Paula Badosa.
Wang raced to an impressive win after breaking Badosa's serve three times in the first set. Early in the second set, with Wang leading 40-0 in the opening game, Badosa retired due to a right hip injury, handing Wang a crucial victory.
This remarkable run comes after Wang navigated two rounds of qualifying and scored major upsets along the way. She stunned two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and World No. 16 Daria Kasatkina in the early rounds. Her biggest triumph was overcoming the newly crowned French Open champion and World No. 2 Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 – marking her first win against a Top 2 player!
Reflecting on her journey, Wang said, "Playing in the qualifiers is definitely an advantage. Getting more matches, especially as we transition from clay to grass, builds confidence and helps me adapt faster."
Now, the rising star gears up to face Russia's Liudmila Samsonova in the semifinals. With her energy and fierce determination, she is set to inspire tennis fans and young sports enthusiasts around the world. Stay tuned for more exciting updates on her grass-court campaign! 🎾🔥
Reference(s):
China's Wang Xinyu powers into semifinals at WTA Berlin Open
cgtn.com
