Wu Yibing defeats Ruud, foreign media praise it as a career-defining performance, next round China-Japan clash sparks widespread attention

On February 25th Beijing time, the 2026 ATP 500 Acapulco tournament staged a thrilling highlight match. Chinese player Wu Yibing, who emerged from the qualifiers, faced the tournament’s 3rd seed and world No.12, three-time Grand Slam finalist Ruud, in the first round of the main draw. Wu shocked everyone by sweeping his opponent with two flawless tiebreak sets, 7-6(2) 7-6(1), advancing powerfully into the men’s singles round of 16.

In this match, Wu Yibing fully showcased his attacking talent. Although Ruud served 12 aces, Wu dominated the crucial baseline rallies. According to post-match stats, Wu hit 32 winners throughout the match, while the defense-oriented Ruud managed only 9 points. Both players converted one break point each, but when it came to the pressure-packed tiebreaks, Wu’s hot form allowed Ruud to score just 3 points across both.

Domestic media hailed this victory as the return of a former prodigy, calling it “another milestone in Wu Yibing’s career,” and urged: “His ability goes far beyond this; he needs to quickly improve his ranking and move out of this current zone that doesn’t suit him.” Some outlets praised Wu for “announcing a strong comeback with consistent performances,” noting that his fast-paced style left the steady Ruud completely unsettled.

Compared to the hopeful tone of domestic media, foreign outlets expressed even greater amazement at the explosive nature of this win.

Spain’s Tennis World featured a headline: “Wu Yibing gave Ruud an offensive masterclass. This young Chinese player showed the Norwegian in two tiebreak sets why he was once considered a future top 10 player. This isn’t an upset; it’s a return of talent.” Senior commentator from the US site Tennis365 ranked it among “this week’s most shocking ATP upsets,” adding: “Wu’s clutch performance is at a superstar level; if he stays healthy, a top 100 return is imminent.”

This stirring victory also ignited passion among domestic fans. On social media, comments were full of emotion. A user named “Tennis Rookie” wrote: “The familiar tiebreak Wu! It moved me to tears. To come back from serious injury and beat world No.12 like this is incredible!” Another fan, “Flying Panda,” said: “32 winners to 9, it’s like an adult playing against a child. Ruud even complained after the match that the serve rhythm was too fast. Haha, Wu is truly strong!”

Of course, some netizens remained cautiously optimistic. User “Tennis Fan Not a Champion Supporter” commented: “Don’t get carried away, stay steady! Winning is great, but no room for error next round. Hope Wu stays healthy and climbs back into the top 100 step by step!”

Ruud appeared very dejected after the loss, stating helplessly in the mixed zone: “His (Wu Yibing’s) pace of hitting was suffocating today; I had no time to organize a counterattack. Especially in the tiebreaks, his performance was near perfect. I have to tip my hat to him.”

After reaching the second round, Wu Yibing’s next opponent is confirmed — fellow qualifier Japanese player Shimabukuro, who eliminated French veteran Mannarino in the first round. This will be their first career meeting.

Regarding this upcoming match, Wu Yibing is widely favored. Considering his current form and solid skills, having just defeated a top 15 player, Wu’s confidence is high, and his attacking power poses a strong threat to unseeded opponents. Although Shimabukuro proved his strength through qualifying, he is clearly less experienced and skilled compared to Ruud. If Wu maintains his focus and aggressive touch, he has a great chance to advance to the quarterfinals. This China-Japan men’s tennis showdown between rising stars is sure to draw significant attention tomorrow.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)