Chinese tennis players Yuan Yue and Zhang Zhizhen faced early exits at the Indian Wells tournaments on Thursday, marking a challenging start for the nation’s representatives at the prestigious WTA and ATP combined event in California.
Yuan Yue, ranked 68th globally, was outmatched by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in a 6-2, 6-4 defeat. Despite high expectations, the 24-year-old struggled to maintain momentum, converting only two of six break points. Yastremska’s powerful performance sets her up for a second-round clash with Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur on Friday.
In the men’s draw, Zhang Zhizhen battled fiercely against Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo in a rain-delayed match. The 51st-ranked Zhang initially dominated with 11 aces and fewer unforced errors, but Diallo rallied to secure a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(7) victory after nearly three hours of play. Diallo will next meet French 21st seed Arthur Fils.
The results highlight the competitive intensity of the Indian Wells tournaments, a key event ahead of the European clay-court season. While Chinese fans hoped for deeper runs, the matches underscored emerging talent and areas for improvement.
