Zhu Lin suffered a heavy defeat in the opening match of the United Cup, putting the Spanish team in a desperate situation and prompting fans to call for Alcaraz to come to the rescue.

After the 2026 United Cup officially kicked off, the greatest concern clearly lies with the fans of the Chinese and Spanish teams.

Ever since China’s debut match in the United Cup was set against Belgium, this worry has persisted, leading Zhu Lin to nervously start her mission to make a strong impression for China.

Many people lost trust in Zhu Lin prematurely, primarily because Mertens represented a major obstacle for her. In terms of results, the Belgian player is far ahead; in rankings, Zhu Lin cannot compare to Mertens; and considering overall ability, especially Mertens’ outstanding singles and doubles performance, the Chinese star is clearly at a disadvantage.

Moreover, in their previous four encounters, Zhu Lin has only won once. Facing Mertens again in the United Cup debut understandably led many to doubt the Chinese player’s chances.

However, some argue that given Zhu Lin’s gold medal in singles at last year’s National Games and her tour performances, her form has been steadily improving. In this "battle of skill and experience," "Zhu the scriptwriter might not suffer a crushing defeat; she might even create a human comedy."

But once the two faced off officially, things went as expected: Mertens was like an insurmountable mountain for Zhu Lin, who had no answer at all. The first set ended painfully quickly, with the Belgian player sweeping it 6-2, leaving fans heartbroken.

Regarding Zhu Lin’s fragile performance in the first set and the declining confidence among fans and netizens, some defended the Chinese player by pointing out that it’s still early in the new season, and as the first to compete for China, it’s understandable that her touch felt rusty. They believe she will improve significantly from the second set onwards and urged everyone to “have faith in our own.”

It was expected that Zhu Lin would raise her level considerably in the second set and fiercely challenge Mertens, but the reality was completely the opposite of what everyone imagined.

Whether Zhu Lin was stunned and unable to recover or Mertens’ dominant style overwhelmed her, the first five games of the second set flew by in a flash. Especially when Zhu Lin fell behind 1-4, it was clear her confidence and morale were completely crushed by Mertens. Fans and netizens had lost hope for a comeback, with their only wish being, "If she can avoid a complete blowout, that would be acceptable."

When Mertens closed out the second set 6-2, ending the match, the first reaction among fans and viewers in the live stream was relief that the ordeal was finally over, with the greatest comfort being "Zhu the scriptwriter didn’t suffer a total collapse before leaving the court."

After Zhu Lin’s heavy defeat in her attempt to secure a winning start for China in the United Cup, both criticism and encouragement followed post-match.

Critics mainly argued that throughout the match Zhu Lin lacked necessary fighting spirit, appearing lazy and unmotivated. Some fans and netizens watching the live stream bluntly said it seemed Zhu Lin wasn’t very eager to compete in the United Cup.

Supporters believed that Zhu Lin’s form had yet to fully emerge, and with Mertens being so dominant, Zhu Lin was given no chance to breathe. They felt this kind of loss was understandable and expected better performances in the future.

However, some fans and netizens emphasized that while Zhu Lin’s situation is understandable, the Chinese team’s current position is already critical, leaving no room for missed opportunities.

The anxiety caused by Zhu Lin’s failure to secure a winning start for China in the United Cup is growing among fans and netizens, and Spain’s situation is not much better.

Although Alcaraz and Badosa are absent from this United Cup, many believe that with Munar and Manero leading the Spanish team, the weaker Argentine team stands a high chance of being swept away.

However, after the match between the two teams, the biggest upset of the United Cup’s opening was born. The widely underestimated Argentine team defeated the strong Spanish squad with a perfect 3-0 record, leaving Spain in a dire predicament.

The strong call for Alcaraz’s return stems not only from the belief that he can turn the tide for Spain but also from the perception that Spain’s elimination is already sealed.

Because in the upcoming matches against the US team led by Gauff and Fritz, many emphasize that given Spain’s current overall strength and lineup, they have no chance to challenge the powerful Americans, and the script for Spain’s exit seems already written.

In response to the strong calls for Alcaraz to save the Spanish team, one netizen humorously remarked that if he is to come to the rescue, it will have to wait until next year. This year, Alcaraz is not interested in this event; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to participate in an exhibition in Korea to prepare for the Australian Open, opting out of the United Cup, which best showcases personal and national pride.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Starry Sky of the Moon River)