The early end of Wu Yibing’s Chinese season due to injury at the Shanghai Masters left him no choice but to withdraw, and he expressed his apologies to the fans afterward.

Wu Yibing came to the Shanghai Masters and left just as swiftly, surprising many with his speed.

Zhang Zhizhen debuted first in the Shanghai Masters main draw; after his initial match failed to impress, Wu Yibing’s match time was set, prompting a surge of optimism for the ex-Chinese top player. Many thought Wu might be the turning point to halt the Chinese squad’s continuous defeats from qualifiers through to the main event.

The strong confidence in Wu Yibing largely stems from his outstanding recent performance at the Hangzhou 250 tournament.

At that time, Wu was not highly favored, yet he managed to overturn odds and expectations by defeating Manarino, Korda, and Medvedev, leading many to proclaim that although he hadn’t yet cracked the top 100 rankings, he had regained his best form within the top 100 and had a promising future ahead.

Especially in the match against former world No. 1 Medvedev, where despite tough circumstances, Wu staged a comeback that impressed many fans and netizens, who declared his level to be that of a top 20 player.

Although he eventually lost in the semifinals to Asia’s No. 1, Bublik, Wu’s appearance at the Shanghai Masters still generated high expectations. Some said that after a long rest, Wu should be fully recovered and ready to make a striking comeback.

In the first round of the Shanghai Masters against Svrčina, Wu Yibing ignited everyone’s passion right from the first set.

Wu’s play in this match continued the aggressive, fearless style he showed at the Hangzhou 250, with bold attacks and fierce swings. Although his tactics were risky and aggressive, when targeted well, high risk could bring high rewards.

Perhaps due to about two weeks without competition, Wu seemed somewhat out of sync with the game at the start, making various errors that caused concern.

When he fell behind 1-4, many thought Wu would have to watch Svrčina take the first set easily, placing him under immense pressure. However, the former Chinese No. 1 showed remarkable resilience, fighting back to 4-4. This unexpected turn caused cheers in the live broadcast, with many praising Wu’s fighting spirit and dominance, calling him a true Chinese hero.

Just when everyone believed Wu’s momentum would be unstoppable and Svrčina would struggle to resist, an unforeseen event occurred during the set.

In the eleventh game, while saving a break point, Wu likely strained his left thigh from overexertion, and after a changeover, he called for a medical timeout.

This unfortunate incident led Wu to lose the first set 5-7 soon after.

Just as fans were eager to see how Wu would adjust and continue battling Svrčina in the second set, the former Chinese No. 1 shook his head at his team and coach, then unexpectedly shook hands with Svrčina and announced his retirement from the match, catching everyone off guard.

From the high hopes before the match for a full-strength return to only playing one set before withdrawing due to injury, many questioned whether Wu could ever return to the top 100.

In the eyes of many, if Wu’s current physical condition cannot support intense competition, he may only be able to make occasional appearances in Challenger events. Based on his performances this Chinese season in Hangzhou and the Shanghai Masters, it seems very challenging for him to become a regular on the tour or achieve satisfying results.

With his withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters, Wu’s Chinese season on the tour ended prematurely. He was called the most tragic Chinese player at this year’s Shanghai Masters because his situation was completely different from other players who had already been eliminated.

Players like Sun Fajing, Xiao Linang, Terigele, and Cui Jie were defeated in the first round due to limitations in their skills. Wu, however, has the ability but is unfortunately plagued by a fragile body that prevents him from performing at his best.

Wu Yibing likely understands that ending his Shanghai Masters and Chinese season this way disappointed many, and he apologized promptly after the match, saying, “I’m very frustrated and unhappy to present this result to everyone. I hope to improve and reduce such occurrences as much as possible.”

Although Wu’s Chinese season ended abruptly with his retirement at the Shanghai Masters, he remains the best-performing Chinese male player so far. Besides reaching the semifinals at the Hangzhou 250, his comeback win over Medvedev is considered one of the highlights of his career as the former Chinese No. 1 and is always worthy of praise.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)