Buyunchaokete claims back-to-back tour victories after seven months, while fans call on Badosa to help Tsitsipas.

During the second round of the ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open, Buyunchaokete from China shocked fans by ousting the top-seeded Greek player Tsitsipas in two sets, earning a spot in the round of 16.

Before the match, few expected Buyunchaokete to win. Not only was there a significant gap in reputation and previous records between the two, but Buyunchaokete had also been struggling with form recently, only narrowly making it through the first round after a tough final-set tiebreak against Chun Hsin Tseng. However, Tsitsipas was also out of sorts, having withdrawn from Wimbledon’s first round due to a back injury and winning just one match since then.

At the start of the match, the first two games were uneventful as both players held serve to tie at 1-1. But momentum quickly shifted as Buyunchaokete settled into his rhythm, dominating from the baseline and making decisive moves at the net to win three consecutive games, racing ahead to a 4-1 lead.

Trailing behind, Tsitsipas tried to adjust his pace and clawed back point by point. In the crucial eighth game, Buyunchaokete’s steady baseline play forced Tsitsipas into errors, resulting in another break and allowing the Chinese No.1 to take the first set 6-3.

Entering the second set with a one-set lead, Buyunchaokete came out even stronger, breaking twice at the start and holding serve flawlessly to lead 4-0. Though Tsitsipas managed to break back in the sixth game, Buyunchaokete responded immediately with another break, sealing the match 6-2 in just 1 hour and 28 minutes.

With this win, Buyunchaokete notched his first Top 30 victory of the season, earning 25 ranking points and $11,915, and snapped a nine-match losing streak against Top 30 opponents. It also marked his first time in seven months to claim consecutive main draw wins on tour.

Post-match stats highlighted Buyunchaokete’s impressive performance, with only 11 unforced errors compared to Tsitsipas’ 33. He was particularly aggressive on Tsitsipas’ second serve, winning 74% (17/23) of those points, and also posted an 82% first-serve win rate, showcasing both strong serving and mental composure at key moments.

For Tsitsipas, this loss means he has managed just one win in his last seven matches, causing many fans to worry about the former “tennis prodigy.”

Many fans believe Tsitsipas’ sudden drop in form is closely linked to his breakup with Badosa. Since their split, Tsitsipas has seemed distracted during matches and has shown only average effort in training, indicating the emotional toll has been significant. In Cincinnati this year, he was even seen smashing his racket several times and lashing out at his team during practice, eventually cutting a planned two-hour session down to just 45 minutes.

Some fans have left messages on Badosa’s social media, saying, “Look at Tsitsipas, he shouldn’t be like this. Only you can save him, please help him!”

However, Badosa herself has also been struggling. After losing to Bolt in the first round of Wimbledon, she withdrew from three North American hard-court events due to injury and later pulled out of the US Open as well. The Spanish star’s situation is equally concerning. Her latest social media post was a motivational quote: “It might seem like you’re losing everything, but in fact you’re shedding what no longer belongs to you. Every loss makes room for growth, and every closed door leads you to a better one.” Many interpreted these words as a final farewell to her relationship with Tsitsipas, so for most fans, hoping for Badosa to rescue the Greek star seems increasingly unlikely.

Regardless, for Tsitsipas, perhaps only time can truly heal. With his father returning to his coaching team and the support and understanding of his family, it is hoped that the Greek player will eventually gain clarity and return to focusing on his tennis career.

This match also held special significance for Buyunchaokete. Afterward, he admitted that the victory gave him tremendous confidence, especially as the China season approaches—a crucial period for him.

“Of course I’m very happy, and it’s rare to win back-to-back matches on tour. This is also my first time beating a top seed. I really enjoy the North American swing, and I did well at this time last year too. This definitely boosts my confidence.”

He specifically mentioned: “I believe the US Open and the China swing are the most anticipated events for all Asian and Chinese players. This gives us a lot of motivation, and we’re really looking forward to competing at home.”

Time flies—it’s already been a year. I still remember Buyunchaokete’s three-match winning streak in last year’s US Open qualifiers to reach the main draw. After such a busy season, let’s hope he continues to surprise us at the upcoming US Open and China events! Let’s wait and see!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)