WTCC Day One: Wang Xinyu narrowly loses but earns praise for her outfit; Lebakina reveals her love for building Legos in stockings

Today witnessed the kickoff of the WTCC World Tennis Continental Challenge’s first day. Despite its exhibition nature, the event featured a glittering roster, with Europe led by world No. 2 Swiatek competing against the World team headed by Lebakina. In the headline match, Chinese player Wang Xinyu lost in three sets to Swiss veteran Bencic, while Swiatek convincingly swept past Lebakina, securing a 2-0 advantage for Europe on the opening day.

Before the first day’s matches, all attention was on two players. Bencic had an extraordinary 2025 season, making a legendary comeback after childbirth, rising from world No. 487 at the start of the year to finish at No. 11, and earning the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year award.

In contrast, Wang Xinyu’s 2025 season was marked by ups and downs, with her ranking slipping to No. 57. However, before this exhibition, she removed the right elbow brace she had worn for a full year, and her improved physical condition has raised fans’ expectations for her upcoming season.

The match unfolded with dramatic twists. In the first set, Wang started slowly, falling behind 0-2 early. She quickly adjusted, unleashing aggressive forehand attacks to win three consecutive games and take the lead. Although she missed an opportunity to extend her advantage in the ninth game, she still closed the set 6-4.

The turning point came in the second set. Bencic noticeably raised her level, with a first serve success rate reaching 90%, firmly controlling her service games. Meanwhile, Wang’s serving faltered dramatically, with her second serve success rate plummeting to 17%. This huge disparity on serve led to Wang being broken in the first and fifth games, losing the set 2-6 swiftly.

The deciding set’s tiebreak was intensely gripping. Wang, trailing 2-3, scored three points in a row to lead 5-3. However, the momentum shifted suddenly as she inexplicably lost focus, dropping seven consecutive points and ultimately suffering a 5-10 reversal, narrowly missing victory.

From her performance, Wang showed several commendable aspects. Besides her strong attacking form in the first set, she appeared more relaxed mentally. Whether trailing or leading, she often smiled, embodying a “smiling in defeat” ease reminiscent of her form during her successful Berlin tournament run.

After the match, discussions about Wang Xinyu quickly heated up on social media, with many fans focusing on her outfit. Some commented, “Wang’s green outfit today was really eye-catching; although she lost, her looks and aura won the day!” Others noted, “She smiled much more today, seeming less tense than before. This relaxed vibe combined with the green outfit made her look even better.”

Regarding the match itself, fans expressed more measured opinions.

“Bencic is after all an Olympic champion and clearly a level above. Wang played very well in the first set but couldn’t hold on. Leading 5-3 in the tiebreak and then losing seven points in a row—that storyline is all too familiar... Handling key points has always been Wang’s weakness; hopefully, she improves in the new season,” one fan commented.

Some supporters, taking the exhibition nature into account, offered encouragement: “It’s just an exhibition, mainly to find form. Seeing Wang remove her brace and play aggressively is great news! Looking forward to her new season. Bencic’s story this year is inspiring—returning to the top after becoming a mother deserves respect. Wang is still young with a bright future!”

Another highlight match featured world No. 2 Swiatek against world No. 5 Lebakina. This Grand Slam-level clash was expected to be evenly matched but turned out to be surprisingly one-sided.

Swiatek’s movement and serving throughout the match were stunning, as she cleanly defeated Lebakina with two 6-3 sets, securing another point for Europe.

After the match, Swiatek thanked the Chinese fans present, mentioning she had received many Lego sets from them. She said that during breaks she enjoys building Legos, which helps her improve patience and concentration.

In response, a fan remarked, “That really fits her personality. She seems very patient and meticulous, just like her tennis—every shot placement and combination is delicate and precise.”

This narrow loss is likely just a warm-up before Wang Xinyu’s resurgence. Meanwhile, Swiatek’s interview showed that finding balance between tennis and life not only leads to victories but also brings joy.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)