China's tennis fans faced heartbreak as hometown favorites Zhang Shuai and Wang Xiyu crashed out of the Wuhan Open first round on Tuesday. 🇨🇳 Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva delivered a masterclass against Zhang, winning 6-4, 6-4 in a match filled with tense rallies and strategic plays.
Putintseva dominated early, racing to a 5-2 lead in the first set. Though Zhang clawed back with a break, the Kazakh star sealed the set with another blistering return. 💥 The second set saw Putintseva maintain her 80% first-serve accuracy, ending Zhang's hopes of a comeback.
Next up for Putintseva? A thrilling showdown with Croatia's Donna Vekic – No. 15 seed and Paris Olympic silver medalist. 🥈 Wang Xiyu's earlier exit adds to the tournament's shakeup, leaving local crowds buzzing about future matches.
