Wu Yibing thrilled his home crowd at the Lynk & Co Hangzhou Open, coming from a set down to defeat Daniil Medvedev 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-4. The Chinese star booked his first semi-final since winning Dallas in 2023 and will face third seed Alexander Bublik in a highly anticipated clash.
Wu Yibing’s Remarkable Comeback
The Hangzhou native trailed by a set and a break before mounting an impressive comeback. Using precise shot-making and composure under pressure, Wu overcame Medvedev in a three-hour, 11-minute marathon. This victory marks his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win over the former Nitto ATP Finals champion.
Medvedev fired 17 aces in the match but committed two double faults at 5-4 in the second set, providing Wu with a crucial opening. Speaking after the victory, Wu said:
“I got a little bit lucky in the second set, but I was giving it my best. The crowd supported me like home. Daniil is one of the toughest guys to play on Tour, and I had to bring my best tennis to stay in the match.”
Despite missing almost three years of tour-level tennis due to elbow, back, shoulder, and wrist injuries, the 25-year-old has been steadily rebuilding. This is only his fourth tour-level tournament of the season.
Alexander Bublik Cruises to Semi-Finals
Third seed Alexander Bublik continued his strong season by defeating lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina 6-1, 6-1 in just 53 minutes. The Kazakhstani won all 22 of his first-serve points and saved the only break point he faced, setting up a semi-final clash with Wu.
All-French Semi-Final: Royer vs. Moutet
Valentin Royer reached his maiden ATP semi-final after outlasting Learner Tien 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-2. The 24-year-old Frenchman converted all three break points in a thrilling 2-hour, 38-minute battle, following a victory over top seed Andrey Rublev earlier in the tournament.
Royer will face fellow Frenchman Corentin Moutet in an all-French semi-final. Moutet advanced after Tomas Martin Etcheverry retired in the second set, giving the 26-year-old his third semi-final of the season. Both Royer and Moutet are now competing at career-high PIF ATP Live Rankings, at No. 83 and No. 37, respectively.
Hangzhou ATP 250 Outlook
Wu Yibing, Bublik, Royer, and Moutet now vie for the Hangzhou Open crown in the semi-finals. Wu’s home advantage and resurgence after injury make him a fan favorite, while Bublik’s dominance on hard courts presents a tough challenge. Tennis fans can expect intense semi-final clashes and thrilling action as the tournament heads into its final stage.
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