China’s rising tennis star Wu Yibing made a triumphant return from injury by capturing the ATP Jinan Challenger title, defeating Japan’s Rio Noguchi in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday.
In his first tournament since competing at an ATP 250-level event in Houston four months ago, the 24-year-old Wu showcased his formidable serving skills, recording seven aces in the final match.
After a closely contested first set, Wu secured a crucial break in the 12th game to take the set 7-5. He then dominated the second set, surging to a 5-0 lead before closing it out 6-3 to seal the victory.
Originating from Hangzhou, Wu’s victory at the Jinan Challenger marks his fifth title on the Challenger Tour. This follows his historic win at the Dallas Open last year, where he became the first man from the Chinese mainland to claim an ATP title.
Despite facing setbacks due to injuries, Wu is determined to return to his peak form. “First and foremost, I felt more relaxed here, and even though I haven’t fully regained my control over the pace of the game, my physical condition has been gradually improving,” Wu said.
“In this match, I was able to defeat my opponent by leveraging my strength in serving. After recovering from injury, my serving has improved, which is a testament to the hard work I put in during training. So I hope to stay healthy and play well in the upcoming matches,” he added.
Wu Yibing’s successful comeback is a promising sign for Chinese tennis, and fans are eager to see him continue his ascent on the international stage.
Reference(s):
China's Wu Yibing returns from injury to win ATP Jinan Challenger
cgtn.com
