Wang Xinyu advanced with a bagel win at the Cluj tournament, setting a new career-high ranking, with fans expressing hopes for her to become the top female player.

At the Cluj tennis tournament, Chinese rising star Wang Xinyu convincingly beat Spanish qualifier Quevedo 6-3, 6-0 to move into the women’s singles second round.

Before arriving in Cluj-Napoca, Wang Xinyu’s season start was remarkable. At the 2026 Australian Open, she made a historic run to the last 16, narrowly losing in two sets to world No. 4 Anisimova. This season, her play has been aggressive, with improved serving efficiency allowing her to perform smoothly, while her optimized backhand technique has significantly increased shot tolerance. Consequently, many fans are optimistic about Wang achieving further breakthroughs this season!

However, long flights, jet lag, and adapting to the courts pose hidden challenges. Wang admitted in an interview, “The first match of every tournament is always the hardest because so many factors are unknown.” Her opponent Quevedo fought through qualifying rounds to reach the main draw and was in strong form. Predictions on professional tennis forums were split: some believed Wang’s superior skills would secure an easy win; others worried about her stamina and ability to adjust quickly.

Pre-match predictions from fans were even more direct. In a social media poll, 78% of voters believed Wang Xinyu would win in straight sets, 15% thought the match might go to a deciding set, and 7% expected a possible upset by Quevedo.

A veteran fan commented, “What Wang Xinyu needs most now is consistency—winning matches she should win to build confidence and ranking points. Her goal is to reach higher stages.”

The match unfolded exactly as expected for the favorite Wang Xinyu. She quickly found her rhythm in the first set, using a powerful first serve and precise baseline movement to break serve in the fifth game, establishing a 4-1 lead. Quevedo tried to disrupt the pace, but Wang’s court coverage left no openings. Wang secured the first set comfortably at 6-3.

In the second set, the contest turned into a one-sided lesson. Wang’s offense flowed relentlessly, breaking Quevedo’s serve repeatedly. Quevedo’s confidence faltered, leading to a surge in unforced errors. Ultimately, Wang won six straight games to deliver a “bagel” set, finishing 6-0. The entire match lasted only 62 minutes, impressively efficient.

“This week, my goal is simply to survive,” Wang said pragmatically when asked post-match about her new career-high ranking (currently No. 32) and future ambitions.

She admitted the need to adjust after long travels: “The rest periods between events are actually quite short, but that’s a good sign—it means I’ve been winning consistently.”

For the 2026 season just underway, she avoided setting distant goals, focusing instead on the present: “I’m happy to have reached the next round and want to maintain this good form, giving my all. Of course, if I can improve my ranking further, that would be fantastic!”

On social media, many fans expressed joy and noted that with China’s top player Zheng Qinwen sidelined by injury, Chinese tennis lacks a leader, and Wang Xinyu is fitting that role now. One fan said, “Wang’s style has matured—she no longer relies solely on power but adds variety and intelligence. I’m confident she will surpass Zheng Qinwen!”

Other fans commented, “From her breakthrough in Berlin to the Australian Open round of 16 and now her consistent performances, Wang Xinyu is in the golden phase of her career. I expect her to break into the top 30 this year!” Another fan said, “I love Wang’s post-match interviews for their honesty. She doesn’t talk about big goals, just says ‘I want to survive.’ This grounded attitude is key to steady progress.”

With an easy first-round win, Wang earned 30 ranking points and $4,600 in prize money. Her current ranking rose to No. 32, tying her career best. In the next round, she will face the winner between Romania’s Ruse and Switzerland’s Masarova. Based on the draw, Wang is well-positioned to advance further.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)