Wu Yibing missed all break point opportunities and regrettably exited in the Acapulco quarterfinals, falling short of a return to the Top 100.

In the ATP 500 Acapulco men's singles quarterfinal concluded on the morning of February 27 Beijing time, Chinese player Wu Yibing failed to sustain his previous giant-killing form. He lost to the tournament's fifth seed, Italian player Cobolli, with scores of 6-7(4), 1-6, ending his run in the last eight. This match not only concluded his remarkable journey at this event but also temporarily dashed his hopes of re-entering the world's Top 100.

Wu Yibing reached the quarterfinals of an ATP 500 event for the first time in his career at this tournament. His opponent in the last eight, Cobolli, currently ranked 20th in the world, held a clear advantage in strength. At the start of the match, Wu displayed resilient resistance. The first set reached a critical late stage where Wu even forced two set points, but unfortunately, he couldn't capitalize on the opportunities, allowing his opponent to force a tie-break. In the tie-break, Wu once held a lead, but a crucial, straightforward forehand error shifted the momentum, ultimately leading to a 4-7 loss in the opening set.

Losing the first set seemed to drain Wu Yibing's energy and morale. Entering the second set, his physical condition noticeably declined, resulting in consecutive service breaks. Cobolli strung together three-game runs at both the start and end of the set, sealing a comfortable 6-1 victory.

From the match statistics, the decisive factor was the ability to handle crucial points. Despite Wu Yibing's efforts in creating eight break point opportunities throughout the match, he failed to convert any against the experienced Cobolli. In contrast, his opponent demonstrated greater composure and effectiveness in key moments. This highlighted an area for improvement for Wu in his comeback against top-tier opponents: the mental fortitude and execution required on pivotal points.

Despite the regret of a quarterfinal exit, Wu Yibing's performance throughout his Acapulco campaign remains commendable. After coming through qualifying, he caused a major upset in the first round by defeating three-time Grand Slam finalist and third seed Ruud in two tight tie-breaks, 7-6, 7-6. He then overcame Japanese player Shimabukuro to reach his first-ever ATP 500 quarterfinal. This series of victories earned him 125 ranking points, elevating his live ranking to World No. 111. While he fell just short of an immediate return to the Top 100, this winning streak has firmly cemented his position as the top-ranked Chinese male player.

"A near miss" might be the best summary for Wu Yibing's tournament—referring both to the two set points he missed in the first set and the narrow points gap separating him from the Top 100 threshold. For Wu, who is still in a recovery phase from injury and gradually regaining his form, being able to compete at the ATP 500 level against high-caliber opponents and produce quality tennis is in itself a positive sign. He will now carry the confidence and ranking points gained in Mexico forward as he continues his pursuit of a higher ranking.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei)