Wang Xinyu’s loss revealed three painfully accurate reasons; Zheng Qinwen’s fate in Doha will be decided today.

What was considered a highly probable victory ended in a surprising elimination for Wang Xinyu at the Cluj singles tournament, causing many fans and online followers a night of disappointment and restlessness.

Despite the Ukrainian player Olijnikova’s past upset over a top-eight opponent, Wang Xinyu was still widely favored for this match. The odds strongly supported Wang, reflecting the perceived skill gap and meeting expectations.

However, Wang Xinyu, the heavy favorite, suffered an upset, losing after a grueling 2 hours and 10 minutes with two 4-6 sets to Olijnikova, failing to even reach the deciding set, leaving some fans and netizens feeling quite disappointed.

Looking back at the match, Wang Xinyu’s thick bandage on her right thigh and the medical timeout she called mid-match suggest that her defeat might have been destined.

But many believe the main reason for Wang Xinyu’s loss wasn’t injury; otherwise, she wouldn’t have fought for the full 130 minutes. The primary cause is thought to be exhaustion—otherwise, how could Olijnikova, playing seemingly beyond her usual level, have won two sets?

Wang Xinyu competed in both singles and doubles at the Cluj 250 event. Many have long worried about her stamina, and playing two matches a day for several consecutive days clearly took a heavy toll on China’s No. 2 player.

In the match against Olijnikova, Wang Xinyu’s errors were rampant, many of them basic mistakes. If it weren’t for fatigue severely affecting her form, such frustrating mistakes would be hard to explain.

The second reason for Wang Xinyu’s defeat was her poor performance in critical points. She had as many as 23 break point opportunities on Olijnikova’s serve but converted only twice. Such a dismal break rate and unstable form made it extremely difficult to win.

After the match, some fans sadly commented that rather than Olijnikova causing an upset, it was more like China’s No. 2 lost to herself, handing over the victory. If Wang had been a bit stronger on crucial points, she would have won easily, leaving the Ukrainian with no chance.

The last reason netizens pointed out for Wang Xinyu’s loss surprisingly also drew criticism toward Zheng Saisai. Whenever Olijnikova was under pressure, she would use moonballs, and Wang seemed unable to find a better way to counter them.

Many fans and netizens sighed because Zheng Saisai, an expert at handling moonballs, is Wang’s teammate. Logically, before facing Olijnikova, Zheng should have analyzed the opponent’s tactics, especially preparing for possible moonballs. Instead, what everyone saw was the opposite, giving rise to the joke that Zheng might share some responsibility for Wang’s loss.

Regarding the three reasons netizens gave for Wang Xinyu’s defeat, some frankly admitted that although each reason stings, they reflect the truth since they accurately portray Wang’s situation on court. Even if the other two reasons might be debatable, the data-related reason is indisputable: Wang’s poor handling of key points compared to Olijnikova clearly influenced the match’s outcome.

On a positive note, although Wang Xinyu lost in singles, she performed strongly in doubles alongside Zheng Saisai, battling through three sets against the tough team of Ruse and Cristian to reach the final, earning a shot at the doubles title.

It will be interesting to see if Wang Xinyu can turn her fortunes around in Cluj, losing one battle but winning another. Meanwhile, the question of whether Zheng Qinwen will compete or withdraw in Doha also draws much attention.

Zheng Qinwen had previously registered for the Abu Dhabi 500 event but withdrew at the last moment, which led to doubts about whether she would return to competition in Doha despite arriving there with her team for training.

Whether Zheng Qinwen will play or withdraw will be officially revealed today. The Doha 1000 draw ceremony starts at 7 PM Beijing time tonight; if her name appears in the draw, it confirms her participation; otherwise, it means another unexpected withdrawal.(Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Sky)