Rebeka attends YONEX Wuhan Open signing event: aiming to advance further in Wuhan

On October 7th Beijing time, 2022 Wimbledon women's singles champion Rebeka appeared at the YONEX stand during the Wuhan Open for a signing event. Although Wuhan experienced a heatwave throughout the competition, the passion of the fans never waned, as many came to pick out preferred tennis equipment and spent memorable time with Rebeka.

Rebeka’s connection with the Wuhan Open dates back to 2019, when she was a rising star on the WTA tour. Following her runner-up finish at the Nanchang tournament, she entered Wuhan as a wildcard and defeated Zhu Lin, Jabeur, and Halep to reach the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career. At that time, world No. 6 Halep was the highest-ranked player Rebeka had ever beaten.

At Wimbledon 2022, Rebeka dominated with a seven-match winning streak to claim her first Grand Slam title, quickly establishing herself among the top players. She missed the entire China season last year and did not appear at the Wuhan Open’s relaunch. Although six years have passed since her last Wuhan appearance and she has evolved from a rising talent to a consistent top-10 player, the memories of that time remain vivid for Rebeka.

Regarding her goals for this year’s Wuhan Open, Rebeka said, “I’m very happy to return to Wuhan after such a long time. I will do my best to stay in the draw and go further than I did in my first appearance.” Seeded eighth this tournament, Rebeka has a first-round bye and will make her night session debut on October 8th Beijing time at the center court, facing her first opponent, Christian. Should she advance, she will face either Japanese star Naomi Osaka or the recent China Open finalist Noskova. If she reaches the quarterfinals, world No. 1 Sabalenka will be her opponent.

Rebeka has had a strong season, winning the WTA 500 Strasbourg title mid-year. Currently ranked eighth in the live race for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the China season is especially important to her as she aims to secure her qualification early.

Years of consistent tour performance have earned Rebeka a large fan base in China. During this China season, she also joined Chinese social media platforms to engage warmly with fans online. At the signing event, while autographing for supporters, she received thoughtful gifts from fans, creating a warm and mutual connection between player and audience.

Rebeka’s powerful serve is a key weapon in her matches, often helping her escape tight situations. At the signing, she openly expressed her fondness for the YONEX VCORE 100 racket: “This racket is fantastic and has helped me a lot, making my serve better. The new model is coming soon, and I hope to maintain a steady and high-level serving performance.”

Notably, since 2023 Rebeka has worn YONEX apparel on the professional circuit. Her tall stature and exceptional presence combined with specially designed outfits make her one of the most eye-catching players on court. “Wearing comfortable clothing always feels great. I’m very satisfied with YONEX products and look forward to next year’s new designs.”

Photo credit: Huang Dishen