China’s Yue Yuan secured her spot in the second round of the WTA 500 Korea Open in Seoul after a hard-fought victory over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Despite dropping the first set, Yuan, seeded eighth in the tournament, rallied to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Ruse, who recently reached the third round of the US Open, posed a significant challenge. However, Yuan managed to shift momentum after losing the opening set. Adjusting her strategy, Yuan’s deep, consistent groundstrokes and tactical variations enabled her to break Ruse’s serve twice in the deciding set. This aggressive approach proved crucial as she mounted a comeback to take control of the match.
The decisive moment came when Ruse’s return sailed out of bounds, securing Yuan’s place in the second round. The victory marked a strong start for the Chinese player as she seeks to make further progress in the tournament.
Xiyu Wang Overcomes Early Deficit to Dominate in Thailand
Meanwhile, fellow Chinese player Xiyu Wang claimed a commanding 7-5, 6-1 win over Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, advancing to the second round of the WTA 250 Thailand Open. Wang’s performance was particularly impressive, as she overturned an early 0-3 deficit in the first set.
Golubic, known for her powerful baseline game, looked poised to take control of the match in the opening stages. However, Wang displayed remarkable resilience, saving two set points and ultimately claiming the first set 7-5.
The momentum fully shifted in the second set, as Wang’s aggressive play and smart net approaches left Golubic struggling to keep up. Wang cruised to a 6-1 victory, marking her first career win over the Swiss player. The result propelled Wang into the next round, showcasing her growing confidence and tactical maturity on the court.
Both Chinese players now look ahead to their upcoming matches, aiming to build on their strong starts in their respective tournaments.
