Tennis: Wu Yibing makes history as first Chinese ATP Tour winner with Dallas win
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Wu Yibing during the US Open Tennis Championships in 2022. He has surged up the global rankings in the past year from 1,869th to 97th in the world.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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LOS ANGELES – Wu Yibing became the first Chinese man to win an ATP title on Sunday as he held off home hero John Isner 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (14-12) in a thrilling final to claim the Dallas Open.
His compatriots have barely made an impression on the elite circuit of men’s tennis but Wu’s breakthrough could inspire for generations to come in China.
Before this week, no Chinese male had ever reached a tour-level final in the professional era or defeated a top-10 opponent.
Wu, from Hangzhou, has done both, having upset American world No. 7 Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals.
“I made history here for my country and for my home,” said Wu, 23, at the trophy ceremony.
“I’m very proud of myself and especially thanks to all the fans and my team who came here to support. I couldn’t do this without any of you guys.”
Against the 37-year-old Isner, a hardened tour professional with 16 titles and one of the game’s most feared serves, Wu had to earn the right to create history.
Isner hammered 44 aces and held match point as Wu served to stay in the second set at 6-5.
After 22 consecutive points went with serve in the final tiebreak, Wu forced Isner to push the ball long, claiming the match a minute short of three hours.
“I don’t know how many match points I had, I’m sure it’s a lot,” said Isner. “I swear I thought I won the match a few times ... Sport can be brutal. He is an unbelievable ball-striker and a very good talent.”
On Monday, Wu became the second Chinese man to crack the world top 100 at 58th spot.
Though showing promise as a junior, Wu has had to be patient through a run of injuries that saw him drop off all tennis circuits in 2020-21.
Ranked outside the top 1,000 last April, Wu qualified for the US Open and won two main draw matches, becoming the first Chinese man to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since 1938.
He said: “I think the reason why I’m relaxed now on the court is because I trust myself. If you want to beat me, you have to work hard.”
China’s women have had far more success in elite tennis, with the retired Li Na becoming the country’s first Grand Slam singles winner at Roland Garros in 2011 and adding another Major title at the Australian Open in 2014.
But a new generation of men’s players are starting to make their mark, including world No. 92 Zhang Zhizhen and 18-year-old Shang Juncheng, who became the first Chinese man in the professional era to win a main draw match during January’s Australian Open. REUTERS
