Wang Xinyu of China competes in her first round match at the Hobart International in Hobart, Australia, January 9, 2023. /CFP
China's Wang Xinyu on Wednesday booked her slot in the Hobart International quarterfinals after edging out world No. 70 Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in Australia.
Ranked world No. 89, the 21-year-old Chinese young gun fired three aces, won 69.4 percent of her first-serve points and saved four out of six break points through the 140-minute clash.
The decider saw Wang run a three-game winning streak after Van Uytvanck tied the set at 2-2. Holding a 5-3 advantage, Wang only conceded one point to her Belgian opponent before sealing victory.
After the victory, Wang's real time world ranking has climbed up to No. 78.
Wang Xinyu of China competes in her first round match at the Hobart International in Hobart, Australia, January 9, 2023. /CFP
On Thursday, Wang will take on Lauren Davis of the United States at the center court. The 29-year-old American, currently ranked world No.84, toppled her compatriot, world No. 36 Sloane Stephens, in the opening round, and breezed to the quarterfinals with a 7-6(1), 6-3 victory over Belgium's Ysaline Bonaventure.
Earlier, another Chinese player Zhu Lin suffered an early exit after losing 6-2, 6-2 to the 2020 Australian Open winner and 2019 Hobart International singles champion Sophia Kenin of the United States.
The bowing-out of Zhu made Wang China's only hope in the women's singles of the tournament.
Zheng Qinwen of China in action against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during her second round match at the 2023 Adelaide International in Australia, January 11, 2023. /CFP
Meanwhile, young Chinese sensation Zheng Qinwen, who participated in another warm-up event leading up to the Australian Open, withdrew from the Adelaide International.
Zheng, 20, pulled out of the tournament in Adelaide on Wednesday after losing the first set of her second round match against two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 7-6 (6) of the Czech Republic.
She appeared to have pulled her left thigh in her 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win over Shelby Rogers of the United States in the first round and showed up in Wednesday's second round match with bandages wrapped around her thigh.
It was the rising Chinese star's sixth match in eight days ahead of the Australian Open, which starts next Monday.
Together with Zheng, a total of seven Chinese female players have entered the singles event, including Zhang Shuai, Zhu Lin, Yuan Yue, Wang Xiyu, Wang Xinyu and Zheng Saisai.
(With input from Xinhua)