After defeating Wang, Sun Lulu apologized for the fame moment, while Wang Xiyu was praised for her honest concession despite a close loss.

In the women's singles at the Guangzhou Open, the Chinese tennis team’s two initial spotlight matches left fans disappointed: Sun Lulu won in straight sets over fellow Chinese Wang Yafan to advance decisively, whereas Wang Xiyu missed opportunities in the deciding set and suffered a narrow defeat.

Sun Lulu, who caused a surprise by defeating China’s number one Zheng Qinwen in the first round at Wimbledon, met Wang Yafan in the second round. As players of Chinese heritage, this match was a special kind of "Chinese derby." However, both players have shown rather average form recently, with modest results in the Chinese season, so the outcome likely depended on their performance on the day. Still, based on reputation and skill, Sun Lulu was generally favored by observers.

In the first set, Sun Lulu quickly found her rhythm, holding serve and breaking to lead 3-0. Wang Yafan, slow to respond, then held serve, and the two engaged in a tug-of-war. Both players held serve for the next five games, with Wang Yafan broken only once, ultimately losing the set 3-6—a result that felt somewhat unfortunate.

In the second set, Sun Lulu again started strong, breaking and holding to win the first two games. Wang Yafan held serve in the third to narrow the gap to 1-2. However, Sun Lulu then surged, winning four consecutive games with two more breaks of serve. Wang Yafan lost the set 1-6, and ultimately was swept 0-2, missing out on the quarterfinals.

Following this match, Sun Lulu earned 72 ranking points and $6,815 in prize money. Her current world ranking rose to 104, marking a solid step toward her goal of breaking into the top 100.

A touching moment occurred during the post-match interview. Speaking fluent Chinese, Sun Lulu took the microphone and immediately apologized to the audience: “Sorry everyone. It’s always tough to face a Chinese player, but I know if I were playing someone else, you’d all be cheering for me. See you in the quarterfinals!”

She explained in the interview that her apology was because she felt bad for eliminating the much-loved Wang Yafan, a sincere remark that instantly connected her with the home crowd. She playfully added that she hoped the audience would continue to generously cheer and applaud her in the upcoming matches. This high emotional intelligence won enthusiastic applause from the spectators.

Meanwhile, on another court, young Chinese player Wang Xiyu battled Italian player Cocciaretto in a grueling three-set match. Wang narrowly lost 3-6, 6-2, 3-6, notably failing to capitalize on a strong 3-1 lead in the decisive set, which was a source of regret.

However, the most moving aspect of the match was not the result but Wang Xiyu’s sportsmanship at a critical moment. In the eighth game of the final set, while trailing, a disputed point arose. The umpire had awarded the point to Wang, but she clearly saw that her opponent’s shot had actually touched the line. After a brief inner struggle, she voluntarily raised the issue with the chair umpire, returned the point to her opponent, and suggested replaying it.

After the match, Wang Xiyu humbly reflected on her actions, laughing: “It’s not that noble really; I still want to fight for every point and win—that’s instinct. So there was a tug-of-war between morality and reason.” She admitted, “But seeing that the ball was indeed on the line, I thought I had to be honest and speak up.” These simple words perfectly highlight the invaluable integrity of a professional athlete.

Netizens praised Wang Xiyu generously: “Although she lost the match, Wang Xiyu won in character—that’s why we love this athlete!” Others said, “To voluntarily call for a replay on such a crucial point takes immense courage and a pure heart, respect!” Some commented, “Seeing Wang’s gesture made the outcome irrelevant; she showed the most beautiful side of sportsmanship.”

The Guangzhou Open is not only a battleground for competition but also a showcase of character and grace. Sun Lulu’s humble apology and Wang Xiyu’s honest conduct, echoed by Zhang Shuai’s call for fair play, together paint a vivid and touching portrait of China’s tennis stars beyond their superb skills. Their performances bring warmth and strength that transcend mere victory or defeat, embodying the truest charm of sports.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)