Two new 2025 tour champions were defeated in the first round; returning to their peak form may still take some time.

It is well known that each season sees some players achieving notable results on the tour, with some even capturing their first career tour title. However, maintaining that form is far from easy. Last season, Dutch player Van Lierop, who went from his first tour win to his first tour title in 2022, unfortunately chose to retire as he was unable to regain his previous level of performance.

This week, two players who won their first career tour titles in the 2025 ATP and WTA seasons both suffered defeats in the opening round of their tour events. So, who are these two players? At which tournaments did they claim their first career tour titles, and where did they face their first tour losses of 2026? Let this article take you through the details.

In early April 2025, Monaco’s Vacherot achieved his first career tour victory at the Monte Carlo Masters. By late September, starting from the Shanghai Masters qualifiers, he won nine consecutive matches to claim his first tour title, becoming the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters event. Later, at the Paris Masters in late October, Vacherot won three straight matches to reach the quarterfinals, proving he is no flash in the pan.

This week, Vacherot faced American Korda in the first round of the ATP250 Brisbane event. Korda, who has won two tour titles and posted strong results in Grand Slams and Masters tournaments, proved to be a formidable opponent. Despite Vacherot’s best efforts, even pushing Korda to a tiebreak, Korda secured the victory. After losing in straight sets, Vacherot had to accept his first tour defeat of the 2026 season and reluctantly exit the tournament.

Compared to Vacherot, Indonesian player Zeng Limi is less well-known. However, last season she made significant strides during the China swing by winning both a WTA 125 and a Challenger event, propelling her world ranking from outside the top 300 into the top 100. During this period, she defeated several Chinese players including Guo Meiqi, Yang Yidi, Tian Jialin, You Xiaodi, Zhu Lin, Wang Yafan, and Gao Xinyu, becoming a notable rival for Chinese competitors. In late October 2025, Zeng claimed her first career tour title by winning five consecutive matches at the WTA250 Chennai event.

However, after this success, Zeng’s form dipped. At the Southeast Asian Games in late December, she lost to Thailand’s Sa Wangkai, missing out on the singles final. This week, seeded sixth at the WTA250 Auckland Open, Zeng faced British player Katar in the first round.

In the match, Katar took the early lead, gaining the upper hand. Although Zeng fought back fiercely, winning the second set in a tiebreak to push the match into a decider, Katar ultimately prevailed 6–3 in the final set. Despite a hard-fought three-set battle, Zeng had to bow out with regret.

The early exits of these two players serve as a warning for their 2026 campaigns. Their past glories now belong to history, and the new season will pose many challenges they must gradually overcome. Will these players manage to shake off these defeats and return to their peak? Let’s wait and see! That’s today’s tennis story; more to come tomorrow.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Yixin Jushi)