Wu Yibing became the first Chinese tennis player to win an ATP tournament. In the final against fifth-seeded American John Isner in Dallas, Wu had to dig deep into his pockets: he survived four game points and won after three tie-breaks: 6:7 (4), 7:6 (3) and 7: 6 (12).
Defeating third-seeded Denis Shapovalov and number one Taylor Fritz on the way to his first final, Wu took 17 aces from nearly 38-year-old Isner in the first set, but still pushed his two break chances.
Isner resisted and his first chance to break at 6:5 in the second set was also match points. Wu apparently worked calmly, as was Isner’s two break chances at 4:4 in the third act and three match points in the tie-break. Isner got 44(!) aces in the 31st ATP final, but it didn’t help.
Check out the last point in the tweet below.
“I made history for my country,” Wu said after winning the tournament. “I am proud of myself. It was a tough duel. I reached a hundred wands,” he joked.
China’s progress
Along with Zhang Zhizhen, the first Chinese player to make the Top 100, Wu is working to popularize Chinese men’s tennis. It has never been more successful for men in China since the so-called open era of professional tennis began in 1968.
At the female level, the country has produced some of the best players in the world, the most famous being Li Na. Former world number two won both the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Source: NOS
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