Yuan Yue stuns with a dramatic comeback to end her ten-match Grand Slam losing streak, while Wang Xinyu faces unexpected criticism for juggling singles and doubles matches like a workhorse.

Following the first round of the Australian Open qualifiers, Yuan Yue surpassed all other Chinese players competing in Melbourne in terms of buzz and discussion.

In the first qualifying round against Zhiliko, Yuan was heavily favored by bookmakers with odds of 1.17 versus the American’s 5.0, indicating that everyone supported the betting companies’ confidence in Yuan’s smooth progression.

However, some pointed out that considering their experience and overall records in major tournaments, the bookmakers’ confidence in Yuan was understandable, yet they raised a painfully honest question: Has Yuan truly shaken off the slump she experienced in Canberra?

Yuan Yue’s approach to starting the new season differed from Zhang Shuai, Zhu Lin, and Wang Xinyu, as she chose to warm up for the Australian Open by competing in the Canberra 125-level tournament.

At that time, many were optimistic about Yuan, believing that even if she didn’t win the title at a lower-tier event, reaching at least the semifinals early in the season wouldn’t be difficult.

But in the quarterfinals against Kudermetova, Yuan not only failed to meet those modest expectations but collapsed completely, eventually becoming an easy victim for Kudermetova, shocking the public.

Yuan being swept 1-6, 0-6 at such a level left fans and netizens incredulous, with some worriedly questioning how she would perform in the upcoming Australian Open qualifiers.

Because Yuan had recently suffered such a crushing defeat in Canberra, some people were uncertain about what kind of performance she could deliver and didn’t side with the bookmakers’ confidence in her.

To be precise, Yuan’s disastrous start losing 0-4 in the first set confirmed that the external concerns about her were justified.

Although Yuan quickly stabilized afterward, her form remained unstable. When Zhiliko took the first set 6-3, pushing Yuan into a do-or-die situation, viewers in the live stream began fearing that Yuan might be swept again back-to-back from Canberra to Melbourne.

Many expected the match to be wrapped up by Zhiliko in straight sets, but after a heavy setback, Yuan was fully awakened.

Yuan’s performance in the second set was like a different player; she not only suppressed the American’s momentum but also won the set 6-1, signaling a strong counterattack.

Seeing such a stark contrast between Yuan’s first and second set play, fans and netizens joked in the live chat, hoping this wasn’t just a brief flash of brilliance and that she could maintain this fighting spirit to the end, so no one would be disappointed.

This time, Yuan did not let anyone down; carrying her fiery form from the second set into the deciding set, she sealed the victory 6-2, powerfully announcing her comeback against Zhiliko.

Yuan’s rollercoaster match, though nerve-wracking, ended happily. It demonstrated her resilience in tough moments and ability to fight back from the brink, while also ending her ten-match losing streak in Grand Slams.

When Yuan lost at Wimbledon 2023, people grew increasingly confident in her after subsequent performances, thinking her losing streak wouldn’t last long. Yet it extended into the 2026 season until she finally broke the embarrassing streak with a comeback win in the first round of this year’s Australian Open qualifiers.

Wang Xinyu is currently just as much a hot topic as Yuan Yue, not because she ended a six-match singles losing streak and reached the round of 16 back-to-back from Auckland to Hobart, but due to unexpected criticism she received.

Some critics now target Wang Xinyu because she works hard competing in both singles and doubles matches simultaneously.

In fact, those criticizing Wang don’t argue that she shouldn’t play doubles at Hobart while focusing on singles, but worry that after expressing how “very tired” she felt following a singles win, she still forced herself to play doubles, fearing this might split her focus and energy, making it hard to advance far in singles — all out of concern.

Many now observe that despite fatigue, Wang swept Gibson 6-2, 6-3 in the first round, showing she is currently in excellent form. If her stamina holds, she might even replicate Zheng Jie’s 2005 triumph here and capture her first career title.

Knowing she is already exhausted but still playing doubles seems like risking her personal achievements.

Some netizens bluntly told Wang, “It’s fine to be a workhorse, but you have to pick the right time.”

However, others believe that if Wang continues to perform as well as she did in the first set in singles, she is very likely to drop doubles eventually, as she also wants to win her first career title soon and understands how to balance priorities at crucial moments.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River’s Starry Sky)