After a challenging period sidelined by injury, China's Wu Yibing made a remarkable comeback by clinching the ATP Jinan Challenger title. On Saturday, the 24-year-old defeated Japan's Rio Noguchi in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, showcasing his formidable serving prowess with seven aces in the final.
This victory marks Wu's fifth Challenger Tour trophy, building on his historic win at last year's Dallas Open, where he became the first man from the Chinese mainland to secure an ATP title. Competing in his first tournament since an ATP 250-level event in Houston four months ago, Wu demonstrated resilience and skill, converting a crucial break in the 12th game of the first set to take a 7-5 lead.
In the second set, the Hangzhou native surged to a 5-0 advantage before closing the match at 6-3, effectively sealing the championship. Wu's performance not only highlights his improved serving after rigorous training but also signals his readiness to return to peak form.
Wu expressed his enthusiasm for his return, stating, \"First and foremost, I felt more relaxed here, and even though I haven't fully regained my control over the pace of the game, my physical condition has been gradually improving. In this match, I was able to defeat my opponent by leveraging my strength in serving. After recovering from injury, my serving has improved, which is a testament to the hard work I put in during training. So I hope to stay healthy and play well in the upcoming matches.\"
Reference(s):
China's Wu Yibing returns from injury to win ATP Jinan Challenger
cgtn.com
