Wang Xinyu praised for playing at a top-10 level despite exiting in the round of 16; Anisimova’s post-match comments win huge fan admiration

Wang Xinyu’s defeat in straight sets to the American Amanda Anisimova in the round of 16 also marked the conclusion of the Chinese tennis squad’s singles journey at the Australian Open.

Before the match against Anisimova, few had high hopes for Wang Xinyu. The skill gap between the two was clear; although rooting for an upset could be thrilling, it essentially demanded Wang to accomplish a very difficult feat. The betting odds reflected this: Wang was at 5.0, while Anisimova was at 1.17.

Before the match, Wang Xinyu commented on Anisimova, saying she had watched the American play at Melbourne Park and noted her speed and power, fully anticipating what might happen. Thus, Wang maintained a calm mindset, aiming to “do her best” in their first-ever encounter.

Anisimova is often described as a powerhouse on court, with strength that can overwhelm opponents. From the moment the American took the first game of the opening set with ease and aggressive style, it was clear Wang Xinyu would need not only to withstand Anisimova’s raw power but also to play smartly. Otherwise, fans watching would only witness Wang being defeated by a player named Amanda.

Under such intense pressure, Wang’s strategy against Anisimova showed she had clearly prepared well for the match. Although Wang lost in two sets, the close scores of 6-7 and 4-6 demonstrated she played intelligent tennis, which is why many applauded her warmly despite the loss.

Some netizens frankly said that given how heavily Wang was underestimated by the odds, many expected a sweep. The fact that she managed to engage Anisimova in a tactical battle, like a sharp needle meeting a blade, exceeded everyone’s expectations and made her performance honorable despite the defeat.

After the match, many continued to praise Wang’s steady progress along her path of causing upsets. Compared to last year’s Wang, often joked about for playing too passively, this Australian Open revealed significant improvement.

Whether serving, returning, or baseline rallies, Wang Xinyu appeared completely transformed at this Australian Open. This evident change is what turned a match predicted to be a one-sided loss into a tense and closely fought contest, prompting a well-known tennis commentator to praise Wang for playing at a top-10 level.

“Overall, I felt quite relaxed and am satisfied with reaching the round of 16 and my performance,” Wang said, expressing contentment with her results in Melbourne. She also emphasized that now, no matter the opponent, she no longer feels uncertain—a sign of the confidence gained through her progress.

Outside observers also agreed that Wang Xinyu delivered an astonishing level of tennis at this year’s Australian Open.

Previously, Wang said she did not favor fast hard courts like those at the Australian Open, yet players like Ostapenko, Noskova, and Anisimova—who all hit fast and flat shots—became her opponents. Despite this, advancing to the second week and matching her best Grand Slam result made her achievement even more impressive.

After her victory, Anisimova highly praised Wang Xinyu, saying, “Wang is a great player who performed very well and troubled me a lot. She has improved rapidly and will be even tougher to face in the future.”

Additionally, other players have commented on facing Chinese competitors, sometimes mentioning the overwhelming noise from Chinese fans. However, Anisimova had a different take regarding the Chinese supporters cheering for Wang, saying she didn’t feel disrespected. Instead, she felt “their cheers energized the atmosphere and made the match more intense.”

Anisimova’s remarks were widely seen as a display of emotional intelligence and won her many fans online. Many netizens said she fully deserves the love from Chinese fans and that her unique praise of them makes it hard not to become a big fan herself.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)