Chinese tennis star Wu Yibing delivered a commanding performance at Washington D.C.'s Citi Open on Tuesday, defeating French veteran Gaël Monfils 6-3, 6-1 to secure his first ATP Tour victory of the season. The straight-set win propels him to the second round, where he'll face 10th-seeded Alexei Popyrin.
After an initial exchange of holds, Wu capitalized on Monfils' sixth-game double faults to break serve, seizing a 4-2 advantage. The 23-year-old from Hangzhou maintained pressure through the first set, converting critical opportunities as the 36-year-old Frenchman struggled with unforced errors.
The second set saw Wu dominate after an early 1-1 tie, winning five consecutive games with precise baseline shots and strategic net approaches. This victory marks a significant rebound for Wu, who became China's first ATP Tour titlist in 2022 but faced injury challenges earlier this year.
