Wu Yibing became the first male tennis player from China in 63 years to win a Grand Slam tennis match with a victory in this year’s US Open beating Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3 6-4 6-0 in the first round.
The 22-year-old didn’t compete from March 2019 to January 2022 owing to elbow, back, shoulder, and wrist injuries, with elbow surgery being the most significant. But Wu didn’t want to use his injuries as an excuse.
“I don’t really like to talk about those injuries in too (much) detail because every player has injuries,” Wu had told the ATP website, “The mental strength that you have to go through the pain is part of the game,” he added.
Wu’s compatriot Zhang Zhizhen nearly joined him in the second round, but Tim van Rijthoven saved seven match points in the third set to win 3-6 6-7(4) 7-6(9) 6-1 6-4.
But Wu hopes they can both raise China’s flag, “We are both pushing Chinese men’s tennis levels and we’re still young… I think we’re going to get to the Top 100,”
As of this writing, Wu is ranked 173rd in the world for men’s singles. However, he hopes to move up the ranks when the 2022 U.S.
