Wang Xinyu and the Inspirational Girls Meet to Ignite the Auckland Tournament, Sabalenka Defeats Zhang Shuai but Withdraws Unexpectedly

Following their victorious beginnings this season, Wang Xinyu and Sabalenka’s current conditions differ noticeably: Wang is jubilant, whereas Sabalenka appears a bit unsettled.

After a tough three-set battle in the first round of the Auckland 250 tournament, where Wang Xinyu defeated American McNally and finally broke her six-match losing streak, fans confidently predicted that Wang would comfortably secure a spot in the Auckland quarterfinals before her match against Mexico’s top player, Zarazua, even began.

Their confidence in Wang Xinyu stemmed mainly from her over two-hour fight against McNally, where her problem-solving skills and displayed grit and resilience revealed a renewed version of Wang Xinyu.

Moreover, bookmakers gave Wang odds of 1 to 1.44, outperforming Zarazua’s 1 to 2.75, which further convinced supporters of China’s second-ranked player that Wang would likely reach her first quarterfinal of the new season—unless she herself didn’t want it.

However, they also noted that the match might be somewhat challenging, but ultimately, victory would belong to Wang Xinyu.

Wang Xinyu and Zarazua are no strangers; they have faced each other once before, with the Chinese player losing their initial encounter.

Although Zarazua is currently ranked only 77th, she is not weak; last year’s early exit of Keys at the US Open was due to this 160 cm tall player.

Because of these two reasons, many believe Zarazua could pose some difficulty for Wang Xinyu, but they trust that the confident Wang will fully leverage her strengths to defeat Mexico’s top player, avenging her previous loss and leveling their head-to-head record to 1-1.

Judging from the first set between Wang Xinyu and Zarazua, the match was indeed tough for China’s second-ranked player.

Especially Zarazua’s chopping and grinding style caused significant trouble for Wang, which explains why the first set was so closely contested.

Supporters who backed Wang before the match were not mistaken; at this critical moment, Wang used her height and powerful forehand, combined with enough patience, to finally break through Zarazua’s defense and narrowly take the first set 7-5.

After overcoming such a challenging first set, Wang Xinyu clearly gained more confidence starting from the second set.

In contrast, Zarazua, having exerted all her strength and weapons in the first set but ultimately falling short, was visibly affected; her performance at the start of the second set was less composed than before.

Wang took advantage of this, quickly establishing a 2-0 lead in the second set with consecutive breaks and holds, showing her determination to maintain control throughout.

However, Zarazua is no ordinary player; she used the same tactics that helped her beat Keys at the US Open last year to even the score. Under this pressure, Wang did not lose composure but instead raised her fighting spirit, closing the match 6-4 and avenging her previous defeat.

After securing her quarterfinal spot, Wang’s announcement that she would meet the most inspirational player, Jones, in the quarters has also brought great excitement to the Auckland tournament.

Jones’s story of determination despite physical challenges is well-known; after her upset win over Navarro in the first round and advancement to the quarterfinals, she has become the dark horse of this Auckland event.

Meanwhile, Wang Xinyu’s form has visibly improved through two matches. When they face each other, will Jones’s victory over Navarro represent the biggest obstacle removed for Wang, or will it turn out to be a false hope?

Wang’s current performance has earned widespread praise, whereas Sabalenka, who caused the first upset of the new season at Brisbane, has sparked controversy.

Sabalenka’s current “minor problem” is not about her harsh first-set win over Bouzkova, but rather her unexpected withdrawal after defeating Zhang Shuai.

After losing to Rybakina in the singles second round, Zhang Shuai’s Brisbane journey ended early, with many attributing her premature exit to the doubles first-round loss against Sabalenka and Badosa.

Since Sabalenka hadn’t played doubles for years, her win in the Brisbane doubles first round via two tiebreaks over Zhang and Samsonova made many think the Belarusian was aiming for a double crown. However, her sudden withdrawal suggested she was only playing doubles casually, which upset some fans and netizens who argued that if she didn’t intend to compete seriously in doubles, she shouldn’t have entered. Otherwise, Zhang might still be in Brisbane instead of leaving so early.

Others say that although Zhang’s doubles loss to Sabalenka’s team was disappointing, it’s Sabalenka’s choice whether to play or not. Even if this casual approach hurt some domestic fans and netizens, there’s nothing to be done but to sympathize with Zhang Shuai.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Starry Sky)