Yuan Yue missed the quarterfinals and faces a tough task returning to the TOP100; despite saving three match points, she was ultimately outplayed.

Following a 3-6, 3-6 defeat to the rising top ten player Aleksandrova, Yuan Yue’s journey in the Ningbo singles competition concluded.

After beating fellow Chinese player Wang Xinyu in straight sets in the first round, Yuan Yue faced Aleksandrova in the second round. While expectations remained, confidence was visibly low, and many worried she would find it hard to overcome the Russian veteran.

Although their previous two encounters ended evenly with one win apiece, considering Yuan Yue’s victory over Aleksandrova on the clay courts at last year’s Paris Olympics, followed by a revenge win by the Russian on hard courts in Monterrey, Yuan Yue was clearly the underdog on the hard courts of the Ningbo 500 event. This perception was shared not only among fans and netizens but also reflected in the betting odds: Yuan Yue at 3.4 and Aleksandrova at 1.33, indicating stronger confidence in the latter. Moreover, Aleksandrova’s recent breakthrough into the world top ten added an extra layer of threat to her presence.

In the match against Yuan Yue, Aleksandrova, having just broken into the top ten, showed a surge in form and confidence consistent with her ranking, starting with a commanding 3-0 lead in the first set.

Seeing that Yuan Yue was clearly outmatched by Aleksandrova in baseline rallies and shot quality, viewers in the live chat lowered their expectations, hoping only that she would avoid a bagel or a double bagel, which was already considered a success for the first set.

Therefore, when Aleksandrova closed out the first set 6-3, many breathed a sigh of relief, acknowledging that Yuan Yue had fought hard and not completely collapsed despite being outplayed, making the scoreline quite acceptable.

Yuan Yue adjusted her tactics in the second set, likely learning from the difficulty she faced trying to break down Aleksandrova’s baseline defense in the first. She sped up her shots and incorporated drop shots as a strategic attempt to disrupt the Russian’s rhythm, hoping to find openings.

This strategy initially paid off, as Yuan Yue took a 2-0 lead. Many watching praised her growing tactical awareness and eagerly anticipated a decisive third set to see who would ultimately prevail.

However, Aleksandrova was no pushover; once accustomed to Yuan Yue’s approach, she quickly eroded the lead. Taking control at 4-3, Aleksandrova left Yuan Yue struggling to keep up, and the outcome became clear. When Aleksandrova sealed the match 6-3 in the second set, fans recognized that the Russian’s entry into the top ten was well-earned through undeniable strength. Despite Yuan Yue’s valiant effort, she simply could not overcome her opponent, making the loss unquestionable.

Yuan Yue played well, matching Aleksandrova’s grit and determination. Especially notable was her saving all three match points on her serve in the second set, demonstrating remarkable resilience at her limit.

When Aleksandrova finally converted the fourth match point, the expression on Yuan Yue’s face evoked widespread sympathy. Beyond empathy, the harsh but truthful sentiment echoed: “She really couldn’t win!”

Exiting the Ningbo 500 in the second round, Yuan Yue matched last year’s performance but still faces significant pressure ahead.

After beating Wang Xinyu, Yuan Yue’s ranking rose to 105, and many were optimistic about her quick return to the TOP100. However, with this early exit, she now has 128 points to defend from reaching the round of 16 in Guangzhou and the semifinals in Hong Kong, making a TOP100 comeback by season’s end look challenging.

Looking at Yuan Yue’s upcoming schedule, she plans to compete in the Tokyo 500 and Guangzhou 250 events, while participation in the Hong Kong 250 is uncertain. Given the strong field in these tournaments, Yuan Yue will need to fight hard and possibly rely on some luck to finish the season back inside the TOP100.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlight River’s Starry Sky)