Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu made tennis history on Friday, advancing to her first WTA Tour grass-court semifinal at the Berlin Open after Spain's Paula Badosa retired mid-match due to injury. The 23-year-old from the Chinese mainland dominated the World No. 10, leading 6-1 before Badosa withdrew during the second set's opening game.
Wang's Cinderella run includes qualifying victories and a stunning upset over French Open champion Coco Gauff. 'More matches mean faster adaptation,' Wang told reporters, highlighting her strategic approach to transitioning from clay to grass courts.
The rising star now faces Russia's Liudmila Samsonova for a spot in the final, continuing China's growing influence in professional tennis.
