Turning a weakness into a weapon, the former French Open champion is reversed and reaches the last 32 for the first time; Wang Xinyu reveals the secret to her consistent performance after the match.

Following the 2-hour 20-minute match against former French Open champion Ostapenko, “surprise” and “shock” became the two defining themes of Wang Xinyu’s game.

“Yumeiren” and Ostapenko are somewhat acquainted, having met twice previously, with each player winning once; Wang Xinyu secured the latest win at Indian Wells last year.

Considering Wang Xinyu’s relatively stable form and results this season, along with Ostapenko’s strength, many believed the match would be evenly matched. However, bookmakers favored “Yumeiren,” offering odds of 1 to 1.73 for her win, slightly ahead of the former French Open champion’s 1 to 2.1 odds.

Additionally, since Wang Xinyu had never advanced beyond the third round at the Australian Open before, and now being favored by the odds, many wondered if this crucial moment—just one step away from making history at her personal best in Melbourne Park—would give “Yumeiren” extra motivation to achieve a major breakthrough against Ostapenko.

In the first six games of the opening set, both players performed as expected, evenly matched and refusing to yield. But as the match progressed, Wang Xinyu struggled against Ostapenko’s powerful tennis and committed numerous unforced errors, turning a balanced contest into a chase, eventually losing the first set 4-6.

The second set was arguably the most intriguing of the entire match, with Ostapenko’s inconsistency and Wang Xinyu’s cooperation creating a tense battle of service breaks that repeatedly tested the nerves of fans and netizens alike.

After the former French Open champion seemed to stabilize and led 4-2, it looked like Wang Xinyu had no chance to turn things around. Unexpectedly, “Yumeiren” suddenly toughened up, not only leveling the score but ultimately winning the set 6-4, delivering both surprise and delight.

With the first two sets of this evenly matched game full of ups and downs, combined with Ostapenko’s mistakes at crucial moments and Wang Xinyu’s seemingly unstable form, no one dared to predict confidently who would prevail entering the decisive set.

Just when everyone joked that the final set would be another rollercoaster ride for both players, Wang Xinyu transformed into the steady player, taking advantage of Ostapenko’s possible lingering effects from the second set defeat to reach the match’s peak at 5-3. Although Wang didn’t close out her service game immediately, she seized the opportunity on Ostapenko’s serve, earning three match points and converting the second to clinch victory. The moment “Yumeiren” ended the battle, a collective sigh of relief was felt by all.

After the match, many expressed relief that the ordeal was over and shared great joy for “Yumeiren.” This hard-won victory not only marked a significant breakthrough for Wang Xinyu at the Australian Open—reaching the last 32 for the first time—but also boosted her current world ranking to 40, just one step away from re-entering the top 30.

It’s worth noting that through this match against Ostapenko, Wang Xinyu revealed three significant improvements after last year’s winter training, which the public has called “turning weaknesses into strengths.”

Many had previously criticized Wang Xinyu’s serve, but after switching to the Australian Open, it became clear that this weakness had dramatically improved. For example, she hit 10 aces in the first round and 9 aces against the heavy-hitting former French Open champion Ostapenko in the second round. Wang herself stated that serving is no longer a weakness but a core weapon that boosts her confidence.

The other two praised changes are her precise control in baseline rallies and her mental toughness, both of which were particularly evident in the match against Ostapenko. These three key improvements helped Wang Xinyu withstand immense pressure, complete the comeback, and achieve a historic breakthrough at the Australian Open.

When asked after the match why her performance has been so consistent since the new season started, Wang Xinyu openly shared her secret: “I no longer treat tennis as my entire life, I don’t revolve around it 24/7, and I don’t constantly think only about winning.”

The next round will still be a tough challenge for Wang Xinyu, as “Yumeiren” will face the fierce Czech player Noskova. Describing her opponent’s style as “fast,” many believe Wang has already prepared well mentally, making this upcoming match highly anticipated.

Some fans have eagerly called out to Wang Xinyu, asking if, having already made a breakthrough, she dares to push herself further to reach the last 16!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)