Wu Yibing's journey in Washington was cut short by the Chinese players' nemesis, and Wang Xinyu faces the challenge of playing two matches in one day.

The surprises Wu Yibing brought to Washington ultimately faded like fireworks after facing the Russian star Medvedev!

After the unexpected Australian player Poprin reached the round of 16 in this 500 tournament, everyone thought it would be quite difficult for Wu Yibing to overcome the former world number one in the quarterfinals, and this time, his journey in Washington might really be at an end.

The external perception is not underestimating Wu Yibing; rather, Medvedev is more dangerous than Poprin. Besides the Russian star's solid skills, his impenetrable playing style is also quite challenging. Once anyone falls into Medvedev's traps and enters his comfort zone, winning can only rely on extraordinary luck; otherwise, the chances of losing are high.

In terms of the odds set by bookmakers, Wu Yibing is also trailing with 1 to 3.75 against Medvedev's 1 to 1.28, showing that he is not favored at all.

However, the former Chinese number one expressed great confidence when discussing this focal match, stating, "I feel like I'm getting better with each match. I've found my rhythm at the baseline, and I can connect some techniques together. There’s still room for improvement in the mid-court, especially in my net play, and I’ve been aggressive with both my forehand and backhand at the baseline."

When asked how he could defeat the Russian star, Wu Yibing mentioned that as long as he continues to play aggressive tennis, he can overcome his opponent.

However, from the start of the first set, the concerns everyone had became a reality. Faced with Medvedev's signature grinding strategy, Wu Yibing not only failed to disrupt his rhythm with aggression but instead followed him slowly forward, falling directly into his trap. Additionally, due to the Russian star's solid form, he maintained a constant threat with his serve, giving Wu Yibing no chances, and the former Chinese number one quickly lost the first set 3-6.

Entering the second set, Wu Yibing realized that continuing to follow Medvedev's pace would only lead him into a more dangerous situation. He attempted to break through the Russian star's impenetrable defense with precise placements but, unfortunately, struggled to gain any ground in the exchanges, gradually wearing down his confidence. After losing the second set 2-6, Medvedev decisively ended the match, leaving Wu Yibing at the round of 16 in the Washington 500 tournament.

Although Wu Yibing lost in the end, fans and netizens in the live chat still gave him the warmest applause. From initially being a substitute in the qualifiers to unexpectedly reaching the round of 16 in the main draw, Wu Yibing's performance in the Washington 500 tournament has far exceeded everyone's expectations. One netizen aptly remarked that he has accomplished more than expected, and if there are further demands, it would be like pushing him to a dead end, which is quite unreasonable.

With this victory over Wu Yibing, Medvedev has improved his record against Chinese players to 7-1, continuing to prove that his title as the nemesis of Chinese male players is well-deserved. Some say it's fortunate that Zhang Zhizhen has beaten him; otherwise, having a complete losing record against Chinese players would be quite embarrassing.

Upon hearing this, someone seemed to recall something and immediately reminded Wu Yibing that next time he faces Medvedev, he should definitely call his good friend Zhang Zhizhen to ask for advice on how to defeat the Russian, thus increasing the chances of avenging his previous loss.

After Wu Yibing's journey in Washington ended, Wang Xinyu, who previously interacted with the former Chinese number one through victories, is now also a cause for concern.

After winning the first set 6-4 against Czech player Jelena in the quarterfinals, Wang Xinyu's match was forced to pause due to insufficient light as it got late.

The reason for the interruption of Wang Xinyu's match halfway through was mainly because she was the last to play among the four matches that day. The previous matches ended a bit late, which affected her match and resulted in it being unable to finish as scheduled.

If Wang Xinyu can win in today's rescheduled match, she will have to face the challenge of playing two matches in one day, which is quite worrisome.

Moreover, Wang Xinyu's semifinal opponent has been determined to be the top seed, Noskova, who will be well-rested, naturally increasing the difficulty for the second Chinese sister to advance.

However, some believe that there’s no need to boost others' morale while diminishing one's own. They assert that Wang Xinyu managed to win under such difficult circumstances in the previous round, and they trust she can prove herself again under this test. "Playing two matches in one day may seem like pressure, but it can also be a source of motivation. Just imagine, going straight to the finals with two victories; how exciting and thrilling that sounds!"

After Wu Yibing's loss, can Wang Xinyu, as the only representative of Chinese players in singles on the tour this week, bring surprises under this significant challenge? We shall see!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River's Starry Sky)