WTA Hong Kong: Wang Yafan refuses to be overturned, wins in three sets against Inglis

On October 27th Beijing time, during the WTA250 Hong Kong women's singles first round, Chinese player Wang Yafan, playing under a protected ranking, engaged in a grueling 2-hour and 47-minute match against Australian qualifier Inglis, ultimately winning 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3. Wang came back from a 2-5 deficit in the second set to force a tiebreak, where she missed one match point. In the deciding set, she quickly built a lead, once holding a 5-1 advantage. Although she squandered three match points on her first serve game and Inglis narrowed the gap to 3-5, Wang steadied herself on her second match point serve to seal the win.

Wang Yafan

“I increased my overall speed and rhythm in the third set, aiming to play more aggressively, and I think I did well today in that aspect,” Wang said after her first appearance in Hong Kong in ten years. “I'm very happy to be here; playing in Hong Kong feels like being at home since it’s close to my hometown, and I’m well adapted to the climate here.”

Wang Yafan’s next opponent will be decided between top seed Bencic and Sasnovich. Her current ranking has risen 25 places to No. 273. Another Chinese qualifier, Ma Yexin, was defeated 1-6, 2-6 by Spanish player Boukxa, ending her run in the first round.

Other match results:

Lys defeated Sidorova [Q] 6-0, 6-3

Morvayova [Q] beat Wang Kangyi [W] 6-1, 6-0

Tomljanovic won against Kobori Momoko [Q] 7-5, 6-2

(Text and editing by Wang Fei, photos courtesy of Visual China)