Wang Xinyu's missed chance to claim the title has sparked widespread discussion, with netizens poignantly asking: Why is her first championship still elusive?

After a grueling three-set semifinal loss to American Ann Li in Cleveland, although defeat is common in sports, this incident still triggered significant reactions among fans, who were shocked by Wang Xinyu’s departure.

Following her run to the final at the Berlin 500 grass-court tournament, Wang Xinyu’s failure to secure her first career title became a lingering disappointment for many, who hoped fate would grant her another chance to make up for the Berlin regret.

Therefore, when the Cleveland 250 draw was released, fans and netizens erupted with excitement. As the second seed, Wang Xinyu faced only the top seed Samsonova as a major rival, leading many to believe this was a golden opportunity and to fervently pray that Wang would not falter and would seize the moment.

After the quarterfinals, with Samsonova surprisingly eliminated and the semifinalists comprising Ann Li, Kostyia, and Zakharova, many believed Wang Xinyu’s chances of winning the Cleveland title were very high. They were eagerly waiting for her to defeat Li in the semifinals and then dominate the final, proudly announcing her first career trophy.

However, when the match between Wang Xinyu and Ann Li concluded, the expected outcome did not materialize; it was not Li who suffered defeat but the Chinese second seed!

Following the match's intense discussion, some fans described it as a bittersweet encounter that brought both joy and sorrow.

The joy was that after losing the first set 3-6, Wang did not collapse quickly. Particularly in the second set, she saved five match points and eventually won 7-5, leveling the match. Her resilience on court sparked wild cheers from fans watching the live broadcast, who believed an inspiring comeback was about to unfold.

The sorrow came when Wang, serving at 9th game of the final set with two game points, was expected to close it out smoothly and then pressure Li on her serve to claim victory. Unexpectedly, the Chinese player was overturned by the American, who took the match, eliminating Wang—the only seeded player left—and ending her bid for a first career title.

The reason fans felt even more heartbroken over Wang’s exit than her near miss at the Berlin 500 is that this time there were truly no top contenders. Facing Van Uytvanck, a former Wimbledon champion, in Berlin was unfortunate for Wang, as the Czech player’s experience and skill on grass made the loss understandable, though regrettable.

From being highly favored before the tournament, to reaching the semifinals with strong calls for her to win, and finally being stopped by the relatively unknown Ann Li before the final, netizens raised a piercing question in public discourse: Why has Wang Xinyu’s first career title been so delayed?

This marks Wang Xinyu’s eighth semifinal loss. Why, despite so many opportunities to claim her maiden title, has she repeatedly fallen short, causing this first championship to remain out of reach? Ultimately, this points to issues within Wang herself.

Wang and Ann Li competed under the same 31-degree conditions in Cleveland, both calling two medical timeouts, but their mental states were clearly different. After the match, Wang admitted her focus was lacking, while Li stated she concentrated on every point. This stark contrast in mindset quietly shifted the match’s momentum, leading to Wang’s shocking defeat.

In fact, considering Wang’s eight semifinal losses without advancing further, few would believe she didn’t face mental challenges at crucial moments like in Cleveland. One or two losses at this stage could be understandable, but eight times is hard to ignore.

Moreover, attentive fans noticed a recurring problem in Wang’s eight semifinal defeats—her inability to convert comeback resilience into closing power.

Experienced fans and those familiar with sports psychology point out this is Wang’s most serious psychological and technical bottleneck. Otherwise, reaching nine semifinals on the tour but only winning once would be inexplicable.

It seems that for 23-year-old Wang Xinyu to compete on bigger stages and capture her first career title, she must address this critical issue. Otherwise, the arrival of this long-awaited championship may still be far off, and fans will have to keep waiting!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit Starry Sky)