Happy birthday to the record-holder of multiple firsts in Chinese men's tennis!

What do people immediately think of when mentioning Wu Yibing?

It’s that hot summer in 2017 when he claimed back-to-back boys' singles and doubles championships at the US Open Juniors and ascended to junior world No. 1.

It’s also his victory at the Shanghai Challenger that same year, capturing the title at the age of 17 years and 11 months.

In 2018, representing China, he reached the men's singles final at the Asian Games. Although he finished as runner-up, earning the silver medal was still an outstanding achievement.

Regarding Wu Yibing, every tennis fan likely has their own most memorable impression. Born on October 14, 1999, he is one of the leading active male players in Chinese tennis and today celebrates his 26th birthday.

As a former junior world No. 1 in men's singles, Wu Yibing has been highly anticipated since turning professional in 2017, carrying the hopes of revitalizing Chinese men's tennis.

It’s important to note that while Chinese tennis had multiple female Grand Slam champions like Li Na and Zheng Jie, and even top results such as the Olympic gold in women's doubles, the men's side had yet to make significant breakthroughs.

Wu Yibing’s emergence undoubtedly raised expectations for Chinese men's tennis, but injuries arriving earlier than other players became his biggest obstacle on the path forward.

In 2019, he underwent surgery on his right elbow. After various ups and downs, Wu Yibing made a full-fledged return to the international circuit in 2022, quickly regaining form by winning three Challenger titles and reaching the men’s singles round of 32 at the US Open that year.

In the 2023 season, Wu Yibing broke into the ATP Top 100 for the first time. At the ATP 250 Dallas Open that year, he defeated Michael Mmoh, Shapovalov, Mannarino, Fritz, and Isner consecutively to claim the men’s singles title.

This marked the first ATP Tour title won by a male player from mainland China. After the victory, Wu Yibing’s ranking soared to No. 58, instantly making him a major focus in the tennis world again.

However, injuries forced him to halt his progress again. Wu Yibing was unable to complete the 2023 season and withdrew from several major tournaments, including the 2024 Australian Open, before making a comeback at a domestic Challenger event last August.

Entering the 2025 season, Wu Yibing’s performance remains commendable. He secured his sixth title at the Challenger level in Tyler and achieved wins during the Asian swing at the ATP 250 Hangzhou event. Yet, injuries continue to plague him, making withdrawals due to injury a frequent occurrence.

Undoubtedly, as long as Wu Yibing stays healthy at 26 years old, his professional career still holds great promise. However, his physical condition remains a concern, and everyone hopes he can return to the court in full health soon!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Barbie)