In the United Cup arena, Chinese tennis player Gao Xinyu once again became a key force for her team, playing the role of a dark horse. In the first match against Germany, Zhang Zhizhen suffered a disappointing loss, leaving China trailing 0-1. However, it was at this critical moment that Gao Xinyu demonstrated her tenacity and remarkable skills.
Gao Xinyu has been active on the ITF circuit, gradually accumulating experience and strength over time. Last season, she reached the second round of the Hua Xin 250 event and continued to fight hard in the qualifying rounds of Grand Slam tournaments. For this United Cup, due to Zheng Qinwen's withdrawal, Gao Xinyu took on the responsibility of being China's top female singles player based on her ranking advantage. Her debut was impressive as she staged a great comeback against world No. 17, Maya, securing a crucial victory for the Chinese team and establishing herself with a notable achievement. And this time, facing the formidable German team, she stepped up once again.
Her opponent, Siegemund, is no pushover, currently ranked 80th in the world, having reached a career-high of 27th, made it to the quarterfinals of the French Open, and had commendable performances at the 2024 Australian Open and Wimbledon. But Gao Xinyu showed no fear.
During the match, Gao Xinyu's performance was full of ups and downs yet spectacular. In the first set, she unleashed her power, defeating Siegemund with a decisive score of 6-1. This key victory helped China secure their place in the United Cup quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, lifting the team's spirits.
However, in the second set, controversy arose when a crucial point in the second game was misjudged. Siegemund's racket clearly touched the ball, changing its trajectory before going out of bounds, but the main umpire did not notice, and Siegemund did not admit it. This turned the originally tied 1-1 start into a 0-3 deficit for Gao Xinyu, who ultimately lost the set 3-6.
Despite the setback, Gao Xinyu remained undaunted. In the decisive set, she once again displayed her strong mental fortitude and competitive level, winning the first four games to take a 4-0 lead. She then maintained her composure, closing out the set with a 6-3 victory, helping the Chinese team draw 1-1 with Germany.
Moving forward, Gao Xinyu will partner with Bai Yan to face off against Siegemund and Zverev. The outcome of this match will determine who becomes the group leader. Can Gao Xinyu/Bai Yan continue to create miracles? We'll have to wait and see!