By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday February 12, 2023
The 23-year-old talent edged John Isner in a match point thriller to earn his maiden ATP title at Dallas.
Photo Source: Getty
Remember the name, remember the moment. If Chinese men’s tennis ever takes over the sport on a grand scale, Wu Yibing’s seminal victory over John Isner in Sunday’s Dallas Open final will be the breakthrough moment that is forever referred to as a sea change.
Call it the breakthrough of Wu…
Wu edged Isner in a dramatic three-set battle, saving four championship points before prevailing 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(12) in two hours and 58 minutes of edge-of-your-seat tennis madness.
The Hangzhou native becomes China’s first ATP champion and will become their highest-ranked player in history when the ATP releases its new rankings on Monday – he is slated to jump 39 spots from 97 to 58.
The 23-year-old was spectacular from start to finish in a heated battle with the 37-year-old 16-time tour-level titlist, and he was dazzling with his jaw-dropping forehand and front-foot aptitude.
Wu may have entered the match with zero experience in ATP finals, but he showed nothing but calm as he knocked back that match point and dominated the second-set tiebreak to force Isner to a third set.
The crowd, pro-Isner as it was, didn’t seem to mind…
Wu remained poised in the third set, saving a pair of break points from 4-4, 15-40 to keep his nose in front down the stretch, but he saved his most stellar wizardry for the final set tiebreaker, which featured a total of eight championship points – five for Wu, who won the last, and three for Isner, who had his chances but ultimately lacked the killer instinct.
When it was over Wu dropped to his back on the court and took in the moment. Dallas may be Isner’s adopted hometown, but Wu electrified the patrons of the Dallas Open with his slash and burn style of attacking tennis, and his charisma as well.
Afterwards he joked that he had to face “100 aces” from Isner, but it was good for a good cause, since the American donates $100 per ace to charity.
“It’s a tough one to lose,” Isner said. “I don’t know how many match points I had, I’m sure it’s a lot. I swear I thought I won the match a few times.”
Isner had nothing but praise for Wu’s performance.
“It’s like he plays every point the same, so definitely no nerves," said Isner, per ATPtour.com. "He gets a ball to hit, he hits it, and on this court it’s hard to hit him a shot he is uncomfortable with. He is an unbelievable ball striker and a very good talent.”
Many project Wu, who was ranked 1869 last March, as a potential top-20 player this season, and he certainly looked that way this week in Dallas. Now the real test comes: backing yourself when the target is on your back.