Yuan Yue: I am confident that I can defeat Swiatek in the future; there’s really no need to overestimate others.

In the first round of the Australian Open women’s singles, a matchup that appeared uneven attracted global tennis fans’ focus—former world No.1 Swiatek went up against Chinese player Yuan Yue, who came through the qualifiers.

Prior to the match, the general consensus was that it would be a one-sided affair, and betting odds heavily favored Swiatek to progress comfortably. However, Yuan Yue’s team revealed she had undergone targeted training, especially preparing detailed strategies against Swiatek’s backhand attacks.

Once the match began, the situation on court was much more competitive than anticipated. From the very first game, Yuan Yue showed aggression, striking decisively from the baseline and displaying extraordinary confidence in both serving and returning. She was particularly assertive in serve-and-return exchanges, scoring several beautiful winners. Technical stats showed her forehand averaged 131 km/h, matching Swiatek’s forehand speed.

Yuan Yue positioned herself extremely close to the service line on returns today. The broadcast even used 3D filming technology to create surround effects, highlighting how aggressively she attacked Swiatek’s serve. This tactic worked well in the first set, which went all the way to a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, the more experienced Swiatek narrowly won 7-5, but the set lasted 54 minutes—far longer than expected.

At the start of the second set, Swiatek seemed to find her rhythm, breaking serve and holding to take a 3-0 lead. At this point, Yuan Yue was also troubled by a back injury, making the situation look very unfavorable for her. The turning point came in the fourth game of the second set; despite trailing 0-3 and feeling physical discomfort, Yuan Yue refused to give up. She adjusted her tactics, hitting more balls to Swiatek’s forehand and, with resilient defense and sudden changes in shot direction, broke back to narrow the score to 2-3.

In the following games, although Yuan Yue’s stamina and movement were affected, her fighting spirit remained undiminished. The long rallies at the baseline forced Swiatek to alter her tactics, shifting from aggressive offense to more topspin transitions. The second set lasted even longer than the first, clocking 62 minutes. Despite losing 3-6, Yuan Yue’s performance earned her respect and applause from the entire crowd.

At the post-match press conference, Yuan Yue appeared more composed and confident than ever. She said, “I remember last time I played her, I was a bit nervous because she’s a superstar, but today before the match, I was fully prepared and very confident. I imagined her as a regular opponent; whether she’s world No.2 or No.100, I have to do the same things. I really enjoyed playing on the main court, and it left me with wonderful memories.”

Reviewing today’s match, Yuan Yue admitted that although she lost, she gained confidence: “I’m confident I can beat her and play very good tennis. I felt my serve and forehand worked well today, putting some pressure on her. Her movement and backhand are strong; I tried to hit to her forehand, but in the last few shots, she managed to turn and use her backhand.”

When asked about the gap between herself and top players, Yuan Yue’s answer was particularly striking: “We’re all women, and she is indeed very strong, but I didn’t get here by chance. I earned my spot in the main draw on my own. Being able to stand across from her proves I have the ability to compete. I don’t think there’s any need to overestimate others.”

Regarding Yuan Yue’s interview, a netizen wrote on social media, “To compete with the world No.2 like this, Yuan Yue’s ability is definitely underestimated. Her positioning on return was today’s biggest tactical highlight, completely disrupting Swiatek’s rhythm. If she can continue to play healthily like this, there’s no doubt she has a chance to beat this former world No.1 in the future.”

Other fans noticed Yuan Yue’s mental shift: “Watching her matches before, she seemed a bit restrained, but today was completely different. That confidence radiated from within. Her post-match comment ‘no need to overestimate others’ was spot on—that’s the mindset a top athlete should have.”

After the match, Yuan Yue walked off the court with her head held high. Despite the loss, she left the Australian Open’s main court embodying the fearless spirit of a challenger, along with a powerful declaration. Let us all wish this Chinese rising star an even brighter future.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)