Yuan Yue's contrasting fate in Austin is called a lost haven, while Wu Yibing's first-round match against Ruud sparks online debate

After missing out in the Austin 250 qualifying rounds, Yuan Yue instantly became viewed as a "pitiful figure" by outsiders!

When Yuan Yue showed up at the Austin qualifiers this year, she was widely expected to qualify for the main event without trouble.

The trust in Yuan Yue was linked to her delivering a double bagel in the first qualifying round, creating a sensational upset in Austin. Fans and netizens openly said that anyone facing Yuan Yue in such hot form was essentially handing her an easy win. Some even boldly speculated that a repeat of her 2024 peak moment in Austin was quite possible.

Yet no one anticipated that the Yuan Yue who scored a terrifying double bagel in the first round would have that dazzling match turn out to be her last shining moment in singles competition.

In the final qualifying round against Osuigwe, the seemingly invincible little Yue suddenly disappeared. Her previously fiery touch cooled sharply, and she lost 4-6, 3-6 to Osuigwe, falling just one step short of the main draw — a heartbreaking defeat.

After the match, many sighed over Yuan Yue’s fate in Austin, feeling that this place which once nurtured her tennis dreams now seemed to have abandoned her, no longer offering its favor.

Back in 2024, when Yuan Yue competed in the Austin 250, she lacked sponsorship, which caused many to feel sympathy and claim it was unfair to such a hardworking and ambitious girl. Ultimately, Yuan Yue triumphed in the singles event, claiming her first career singles title and letting everyone hear the blossoming of this Yangzhou girl’s dream. Sponsors soon followed.

Although Yuan Yue failed to defend her singles title in Austin in 2025, she played the "bright spot when the east is dark" role by winning the doubles title alongside Blinkova, compensating for her early singles exit and convincing everyone that Austin remained one of her lucky grounds.

However, this year, despite widespread optimism before the tournament, Yuan Yue failed to get past the qualifiers. Fans and netizens, comparing her Austin fortunes over the past three years, lamented that her "lucky place" seems lost, given the stark contrast.

From winning the singles title in 2024, to a first-round exit in 2025, and now failing to pass qualifiers in 2026, whether Yuan Yue can redeem herself in Austin and turn what some call a "jinxed place" back into a "lucky ground" remains a highly anticipated but challenging task for her.

Some say if Yuan Yue had lost the final qualifying round to a strong or promising player, it would be understandable, but losing in straight sets to the relatively unknown Osuigwe is puzzling. Perhaps this is why many believe that Yuan Yue faces great difficulty in staging a comeback at Austin, making it a tough challenge for her.

Currently, alongside Yuan Yue, Chinese No.1 Wu Yibing is also facing mixed feelings of hope and worry!

Wu Yibing and Yuan Yue share the similarity of fighting through tour qualifiers; the difference is that Wu Yibing succeeded while Yuan Yue did not.

After seeing Wu Yibing’s performance in the qualifiers, many believed he would make a strong impact in the main draw of the Acapulco 500. However, once it was revealed his first-round opponent would be the tournament’s No.3 seed Ruud, fans and netizens immediately began heated debates about Wu’s chances of advancing.

Some exclaimed that Wu Yibing’s chances were already half crushed, implying he would likely be handed a first-round exit by the Norwegian star.

Others argued in response that a major upset was imminent in Acapulco’s first round, with Wu Yibing being the one to cause it.

In their view, facing Ruud in the opening round is not a disaster but possibly an advantage, because Ruud has a reputation for being vulnerable. If Wu Yibing can summon the fierce determination and resilience he showed last year at the Hangzhou 250 against Medvedev, he has a good chance to shock the Norwegian. Additionally, Ruud’s current form is mediocre, which indirectly benefits Wu Yibing.

This will be Wu Yibing’s first-ever match against Ruud, a true encounter of equals. This highly anticipated battle will start at 8 a.m. Beijing time on February 25. Whether the Chinese No.1 can live up to expectations by upsetting Ruud or will be taught a lesson and suffer a first-round exit will be revealed soon!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit Starry Sky)