Wu Yibing suffered a dramatic comeback defeat by Rublev, with netizens sharply commenting that the two seemed to have swapped souls in the second set.

Just moments ago, in the second round of the ATP250 Hong Kong tournament, Chinese wildcard Wu Yibing battled through three sets but, after winning the first set, could not withstand his opponent’s counterattack, losing 6-3, 2-6, 1-6 to Rublev and exiting at the round of 16. He showed top-level performance at times but fluctuations in stamina and form ultimately led to his reversal.

Before the match, this encounter was seen as a contest with a clear gap in ability. Wu Yibing was ranked only 179th in the world, while Russian star Rublev held the 16th spot.

Their only previous meeting was at the 2023 Halle grass-court tournament, where Wu Yibing fought back from a set down to push the match to a decider but eventually lost. That match hinted at Wu’s potential to challenge top players, though his consistency at critical moments remained a weakness.

From a technical perspective, Rublev is known for his powerful forehand strokes and relentless baseline movement, delivering highly penetrating attacks. Wu Yibing relies more on his serve and variations in shot placement, aiming to score creatively during rallies. Before the match, it was widely believed that for Wu to cause an upset, he needed to maintain a very high serve success rate and sharpness on the first shot of each rally.

Bookmakers overwhelmingly favored Rublev before the match. According to professional tennis prediction sites, Rublev was expected to win in straight sets, indicating little confidence from outsiders in Wu Yibing pulling off a surprise.

Tennis commentators noted pre-match that although Rublev’s form fluctuated in the 2025 season—failing to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time since 2019 and dropping out of the top ten—his experience as a tour veteran and hard-court prowess remained strong. In contrast, Wu Yibing had struggled with injuries since winning in Dallas in 2023, playing only 16 matches in the past two years; however, his form improved in the latter half of last year, culminating in a National Games title, adding some uncertainty to the contest.

At the start of the match, Wu Yibing quickly found his rhythm, exceeding expectations. In the second game, thanks to high-quality returns and decisive baseline attacks, he secured the first break and won three consecutive games to open with a perfect 3-0 lead.

Wu’s tactics were clear: use wide serves to open angles, then attack Rublev’s backhand with his forehand. His first-serve success and scoring rate remained high in the first set, allowing him to firmly control his service games.

Rublev appeared unprepared for Wu’s strong start and made many errors. When Wu held serve steadily in the ninth game to close the set 6-3, the atmosphere in the arena reached a peak.

However, when many expected Wu Yibing, playing at home and leading by a set, to have the match in the bag, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second set.

Adjusting to the match pace, Rublev increased the power and depth of his shots, applying heavy pressure on Wu’s service games. A key turning point came in the sixth game, where after multiple deuces, Rublev won a decisive return winner to claim the first break of the match and take a 4-2 lead. Affected by this, Wu’s form wavered, his first-serve percentage dropped, and his attacking threat diminished significantly.

In the eighth game, Wu again lost his crucial service game. Rublev fought back strongly to take the set 6-2. In the latter part of this set, after a 2-2 tie, Wu dropped four consecutive games, showing he couldn’t find an effective response as the contest intensified.

Entering the deciding set, Wu’s stamina and form sharply declined. His movement slowed, and the quality of his shots deteriorated significantly. Rublev seized the opportunity, breaking serve twice in a row early on to quickly build a commanding 4-0 lead.

Although Wu briefly broke back in the fifth game to win a game, it was clearly too little too late. Rublev then fully controlled the remainder of the match, holding serve to close out the victory 6-1.

After the match, Wu Yibing showed his disappointment but maintained a professional attitude: “I started well and executed my tactics, but Andrey (Rublev) raised his level from the second set, hitting heavier and deeper shots. I didn’t respond well enough.”

Regarding his fitness, he admitted: “Yes, this is an area I need to improve. My matches have been inconsistent over the past two years, and when facing top players, any lapse is magnified.”

Looking ahead, he expressed determination: “One loss won’t change my direction. I’m glad to compete in front of my home crowd and feel their support. I will keep training hard, stay healthy, and aim to consistently participate in more high-level tournaments.”

The match result sparked lively discussion among netizens. Some rationally analyzed: “This reflects the real gap between the world top 20 and those ranked beyond 100—not in technique, but in consistency and physical endurance. Yibing’s shot quality and talent are fine, but he needs continuous high-intensity matches to refine his game.”

Others commented, “In the second set, it was as if the two players swapped souls—Wu Yibing completely lost his spark! But the good thing is, despite the loss, his performance improved compared to last year! At least he won a set first. Hopefully, he stays healthy and gradually climbs back to the form he showed when he won in Dallas!”

Although he didn’t advance further, Wu Yibing announced his comeback from injury with a brilliant set win and a fiercely fought three-set match in front of the Hong Kong crowd. He will now head to Melbourne to prepare for the Australian Open men’s singles qualifiers this year. Let’s wish him the best!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)