The Chinese mainland's rising talent Wang Xinyu faced a tough test on the grass courts of Wimbledon, falling 7-5, 7-5 to Türkiye's Zeynep Sonmez in the women's singles second round at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.
The match unfolded as a seesaw battle, with both players exchanging breaks and holding serve under pressure. Sonmez edged ahead in tightly contested moments, pulling out key winners to close the first set 7-5. In set two, the score was locked at 5-5 when Sonmez unleashed an aggressive flurry of baseline shots and precision returns to seal her straight-sets victory.
"I think she played exceptionally well today, especially in her service returns and baseline game. I didn't get any easy points," Wang reflected postmatch. "From 4-1, maybe she just let go and played more freely. She came through on some key points, and then she probably played more relaxed. I think from that moment, she definitely raised her level."
Wang, 23, arrived at Wimbledon on the heels of her first Women's Tennis Association Tour final at the Berlin Open. Despite her recent momentum, adapting to the unique challenges of grass proved a steep learning curve.
Sonmez, also 23, celebrated her best Grand Slam performance to date, booking a spot in the round of 32 for the first time. Her victory signals a breakthrough on tennis's biggest stage and sets the stage for fresh narratives in the women's draw.
As tennis fans across the G20 nations tune in, this clash offers a reminder of how emerging talents are reshaping the sport—where mental agility and strategic aggression can tilt the balance in two-player duels that unfold like high-stakes chess matches on grass.
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Wang Xinyu eliminated by Sonmez in second round at Wimbledon
cgtn.com
