Chinese player Yibing Wu was forced to retire due to injury from his home tournament, the 2024 Hangzhou Open, in the first round against Coleman Wong. This was Wu’s first Tour-level appearance since April but it ended in disappointment.
Wu has suffered from injuries throughout his career. Last year he enjoyed his breakthrough season as he won the Dallas Open, an ATP 250 event, and achieved a career-high World No. 54 ranking. However, he had to cut his dream year short after the US Open and undergo surgery.
Wu returned to Tour earlier this year in Houston. He won the two qualifying matches before facing defeat in the first round of the main draw. The 24-year-old took another break and returned to the court in August to play Challenger events.
His first event back was a success as he managed to win the Challenger event in Jinan. In Shanghai, over a fortnight ago, Wu was forced to give his opponent Yu Hsiou Hsu a walkover in the first round, and similar scenes unfolded in Hangzhou.
At the ATP 250 event in Hangzhou, Wu was playing a Tour-level match for the first time in China since 2018. The World No. 566 faced Hong Kong’s Wong in the first round.
Wong managed to win the first set 6-3 but heartbreaking scenes unfolded later as Wu was forced to retire due to injury. The Chinese player was left in tears.
In the process, Wong became the first Hong Kong player since 1972 to win in the main draw of an ATP event. He will take on America’s Brandon Nakashima next.
“I think the tougher parts of life always teach you something” – Yibing Wu on his injury-laden career
Yibing Wu at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (Image: Getty)
Yibing Wu at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (Image: Getty)
Yibing Wu’s injury woes go almost 10 years back. He had issues with his left foot since he was 14 but, at the time, he did not need surgery. Last year, after achieving great heights, he had to undergo surgery because he felt extreme discomfort.
Wu told ATPTour.com ahead of his Hangzhou Open first-round match:
“I felt like it bothered me a lot last year after the grass season. Maybe the surface change and also the shoes, I didn’t feel really used to. So I started to feel it more after grass and that’s why I decided to do the surgery after the US Open.”
Wu was sidelined from March 2019 to January 2022 due to a series of injuries, including surgery for an elbow issue, as well as problems with his lower back, shoulder, and wrist. He believes that his challenges have contributed to his mental growth.
“I think the tougher parts of life always teach you something. I think we can all take these parts as motivation,” Wu said. “Mentally I will be even tougher because of the things I’ve [been] through. It’s not easy for everybody.”
However, the Hangzhou Open is not where Yibing Wu could make his mark this year. His first-round exit leaves him without a Tour-level win in 2024, and his current injury status remains uncertain.