Wang Xinyu was unexpectedly praised for her charming smile despite being overturned, with netizens urging her to quickly fix her old habits.

Is the World Tennis Intercontinental Cup an exhibition match or a high-level competitive tour? When this intriguing question was raised in public opinion, someone quickly answered based on Wang Xinyu and Belinda Bencic’s performance in the opening match: they turned an exhibition into a tour-level battle!

As the very first match on the opening day of the World Tennis Intercontinental Cup, the two speculations circulating before the Wang Xinyu vs. Bencic match instantly raised the interest around the game.

Some said that as the home player, Wang Xinyu might hesitate to play seriously against Bencic, who traveled a long way and is a new mother; after all, if she played too hard and lost, her daughter watching might be affected negatively. Others believed it might be Bencic who held back, as she was participating in an exhibition in Shenzhen, Wang’s hometown, and would want to leave a good impression on the local fans.

However, once both players stepped onto the court with bright smiles, they immediately shattered all pre-match assumptions with their rackets: even if it was an exhibition, they competed seriously, treating it as a warm-up for the new season.

When Bencic ultimately won 2-1 by a large margin, Wang Xinyu’s defeat didn’t surprise the public, since losing to a serious and skilled Swiss player is normal; winning would have been the real upset and surprise.

After losing to Bencic, Wang Xinyu faced an awkward statistic: five consecutive losses during this year’s Asian season. Whether in tours or exhibitions, victories have been elusive.

Although Wang Xinyu’s loss was unfortunate, many still praised her after the match, saying they saw progress in her because she accepted defeat with a smile. Just for this positive attitude, “Wang the beauty deserves applause.”

The public applauded Wang Xinyu’s smiling loss as a sign of growth. Given that she hasn’t won any matches in Asia this year, most people would force a reluctant smile in such an embarrassing situation. But Wang’s smile was like a spring breeze, touching fans and netizens’ hearts without any hint of frustration or disappointment, showing she is truly maturing by quickly letting go and remaining composed.

However, some netizens still called out to her from afar, hoping she can fix her old problems soon and greet the upcoming 2026 season with a fresh start.

Looking at Wang Xinyu’s loss to Bencic now, it’s clear that it wasn’t due to lack of skill or technical flaws, but rather her habitual slow start and the tendency to falter after gaining the lead.

For example, losing the first two points 0-2 at the start of the first set is Wang’s most obvious slow start habit. This has happened so many times that it’s hard to count. Although she still took the first set 6-4, fans and viewers in the livestream expressed helplessness, saying if they weren’t used to Wang’s style, their hearts might not handle it.

Fans and netizens also pointed out Wang’s second old problem: losing control after taking the lead. After Bencic leveled the match by winning the second set 6-2, Wang had a great chance to close the match in the decisive tie-break. However, leading 5-3, her touch suddenly went cold, losing seven consecutive points and ultimately being reversed by Bencic, missing the chance to end her losing streak in the Asian season.

“Feels like Wang is deliberately easing up; let’s just treat the first match as a welcoming ceremony for the guest,” joked someone after the match. While this lighthearted comment eased the disappointment over Wang’s comeback loss, it also deepened concerns for China’s No.2 player’s new season.

Wang Xinyu’s failure to end the embarrassing losing streak in the Asian season is precisely because of these two old problems. Holding a strong position in the Billie Jean King Cup but eventually throwing away a good hand is directly related to these issues. The expressionless face Wang showed after that loss revealed how upset she was inside.

Of course, Wang still has opportunities ahead to break the losing streak in Asia, but some emphasize that if she couldn’t turn things around against Bencic in such a good chance, can Wang really surprise when challenging six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River’s Starry Sky)