Wang Xinyu on day seven of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, U.S., September 3, 2023. /CFP
China's young tennis sensation Wang Xinyu has made a groundbreaking stride at the illustrious U.S. Open. By teaming up with veteran Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei, the 21-year-old powered into the women's doubles quarterfinals for the very first time.
Together, they exhibited remarkable prowess, triumphing over the Russian duo of Kamilla Rakhimova and Elina Avanesyan in a riveting battle, culminating in a hard-fought 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 victory. It represents a monumental milestone for Wang and Hsieh, as they have now secured an astonishing nine consecutive victories on the Grand Slam stage.
Wang and Hsieh's remarkable journey began in June, when the unseeded duo stunned the tennis world by clinching the French Open women's doubles title after outclassing 10th-seeded Leylah Fernandez of Canada and Taylor Townsend of the United States.
Wang Xinyu (L) interacts with Hsieh Su-wei during the third round of doubles on Day Seven of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, U.S., September 3, 2023. /CFP
The pinnacle of their triumph was rendered even more extraordinary by the fact that it marked only their second tournament as a united force. Having joined hands at the Strasbourg Open in May, their rapid ascent to glory speaks volumes about their incredible synergy and innate chemistry.
"We were not thinking too much about winning or losing," noted Wang. "We were just really enjoying each other's company on court."
Earlier in the day, Wang's deepest singles run at Flushing Meadows was ended by the No. 10 seed, Karolina Muchova. The 27-year-old star from the Czech Republic, who reached this year's French Open final before losing to World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, finished with 32 winners and beat her Chinese opponent 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.
Wang Xinyu watches the ball during the women's singles round of 16 on day seven of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, U.S., September 3, 2023. /CFP
Prior to Sunday's showdown with Muchova, Wang had encountered three formidable opponents ranked within the top 10. Regrettably, all three ties occurred at Grand Slam events, and all three resulted in defeats for Wang.
Although Wang suffered her fourth loss against a top-10 player, it is important to acknowledge that her sensational journey in both singles and doubles has reached unprecedented levels this season. Her trajectory continues to progress positively, underscoring the exceptional achievements she has garnered thus far.
At last year's U.S. Open, Wang was unfortunately knocked out in the opening round. In a poignant interview afterwards, she couldn't hold back her tears as she reminisced about the immense dedication and effort she had poured into her training, only to fall short of her desired performance.
Wang Xinyu hits a return during the women's singles round of 16 on Day Seven of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, U.S., September 3, 2023. /CFP
However, perseverance eventually reaps rewards, albeit with a delayed arrival.
This year, Wang has been on a sensational ascent in the realm of Grand Slam tournaments, with her unwavering determination shining through on the court. In the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, she breezed through the opening rounds of the women's singles competition.
Notably, at Roland Garros, she even made it to the third round. Now, at the U.S. Open, Wang has taken her game to new heights, achieving a significant landmark by reaching the coveted fourth round for the first time in her fledgling career.