Jin Hua’s performance at the Guangzhou Open started high but ended low! Fans commented: Wang Xiyu lost embarrassingly, Zhang Shuai won amid controversy.

After the second round of the Guangzhou 250 tournament concluded, the enthusiasm of fans and netizens for watching the matches was instantly dampened by the Jin Hua players’ performance; just the phrase “not as good as praised” left a bitter taste upon reflection.

Since the start of the Chinese season this year, the Jin Hua players’ first-round performances at the China Open and Wuhan Open were disappointing. When these four Jin Hua players achieved a 3-1 record in the first round at the Guangzhou Open, fans naturally felt pleased by the comparison and praised them for finally showing the most consistent performance in the Chinese tour. However, just as the compliments were still in the air, the Jin Hua players unexpectedly shocked everyone in the second round, leaving fans and netizens to face it with a bitter smile!

Wang Xiyu, who caused an upset by defeating the 7th seed Jones in the first round, was once thought to have stabilized after arriving in Guangzhou, raising great expectations for her subsequent matches.

However, in the match against the Italian player Cocciaretto, fans and netizens bluntly described Wang Xiyu’s performance as “the hard-earned composure suddenly snapped again, as if time reversed overnight.”

Before the match, much attention was on Wang Xiyu facing Cocciaretto because recently at the Shenzhen Billie Jean King Cup final, Yuan Yue was unexpectedly overturned by this Italian player. This upset left many fans unsettled, and seeing Wang Xiyu meet Cocciaretto again in the Guangzhou Open’s second round instantly revived those unhappy memories. Consequently, many hoped Wang Xiyu would perform well and avenge Yuan Yue’s previous loss by reclaiming what was lost from Cocciaretto.

Wang Xiyu clearly shared this sentiment!

She started the first set aggressively against Cocciaretto, but unfortunately, overexertion led to a costly break in the eighth game, and she quickly lost the first set 3-6.

In the second set, having learned from the first, Wang Xiyu tempered her power, managing her efforts more carefully. This allowed everyone to witness the terrifying power and beauty of her playstyle as she decisively defeated Cocciaretto 6-2, leveling the match.

In the deciding set, with Wang Xiyu gaining momentum and quickly leading 3-1, many viewers felt the outcome was already decided, ready to celebrate her victory with fireworks and messages in the live chat.

However, at this moment, an unbelievable plot twist unfolded, shocking everyone completely.

From the fourth game onward, Wang Xiyu seemed frozen in place, helplessly watching Cocciaretto win five consecutive games to turn the match around, finishing it 6-3.

As Cocciaretto celebrated her victory, fans and netizens in the live chat were stunned, with some wryly commenting that Wang Xiyu’s collapse was a cruel joke: “You can lose, but not by collapsing after such a commanding lead. You have truly defeated yourself.”

Compared to Wang Xiyu’s shocking manner of defeat, Wang Yafan’s loss to Sun Lulu was considered more understandable. Wang Yafan was returning from injury and not in stable form, while Sun Lulu’s win over the top seed showed she was in excellent condition.

Moreover, Wang Yafan was dominated throughout the match by Sun Lulu, making a comeback nearly impossible, resulting in a loss that left little room for criticism.

The only winner that day, Zhang Shuai, also had a rollercoaster path to victory, earning praise from fans and netizens who described her performance as a blend of firepower and grace.

Before Zhang Shuai’s match against Eriyavets, she was clearly favored by outsiders to win.

However, an incorrect line call in the first set triggered Zhang Shuai’s emotional switch, causing her to lose the first set 3-6. Fortunately, she quickly regained composure and won the next two sets 6-3 and 6-2, completing a comeback.

Because this match had numerous incidents, post-match discussions focused heavily on Zhang Shuai’s dissatisfaction with the line umpire and disputes with the referee. Critics accused her of diva behavior, while supporters believed she was justified in defending her rights and refusing to be wronged silently. These mixed reactions made Zhang Shuai’s victory both expected and surprisingly dramatic.

Most surprisingly, after the first two rounds, Zhang Shuai became the only remaining Jin Hua player in the Guangzhou Open singles draw, which sharply contrasts with earlier predictions that the Jin Hua team might collectively surge at this event!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Starry Moon River)