Former World Junior No. 1 Wu Yibing reached a career-high of No. 174 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings this week behind his second consecutive ATP Challenger Tour title. But the 22-year-old Chinese has his sights set on the Top 100, with one eye on one number in particular.
“The highest-ranked Chinese player in history is No. 136,” he said in an exclusive interview with ATPTour.com, alluding to Zhang Zhizhen. “I think I have a very good chance of breaking it this year. I’m going to trust myself and hold myself to a high standard.”
It’s an ambitious goal for the six-footer, who played exclusively on a domestic circuit in China in 2020-21 after recovering from elbow surgery. But Wu is already China’s No. 1, having overtaken Zhang earlier this month. In 2020, Wu had a piece of bone removed from his elbow. (“Sounds scary, but I did it,” he says.)
Wu and Zhang, 25, are both in the Top 200, with the 17-year-old shang juncheng and 20 years Yunchaokete Bu representing China within the Top 400.
But Wu’s recent form on the Challenger Tour has turned the spotlight on him.
He returned to ITF level in January, but badly sprained his ankle in his first tournament in Cancun, an injury he likened to Alexander ZverevThe shocking incident of Roland Garros. Wu won her next event, an ITF event in April in Florida, and has since won three Challenger titles in the United States, including back-to-back trophy runs this month in Rome, Georgia and Indianapolis.
His four career Challenger titles make him the most decorated Chinese player in tour history.
🟢 Third title of the year
🟢 Consecutive crowns after winning in Rome (USA)
🟢 Fourth race #ATPChallenger title🇨🇳 yibing wu is the champion in Indianapolis, fighting for a 6-7 (10), 7-6 (13), 6-3 victory over Kovacevic. pic.twitter.com/JQ2g22UgCm
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 25, 2022
In his win at Indianapolis, he saved six match points to defeat the American aleksandar kovacevic 6-7(10), 7-6(13) 6-3 in an epic final. He also had a pair of Top 100 wins this season, beating Aussie jordan thompson and from Germany Peter Gojowczyk.
“Those games gave me a lot of confidence, especially the game against jordan thompson,” Wu said of their 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 victory in Zagreb. “Especially being down a set and struggling in the second set and fighting through it. He gave me confidence that he could compete with the top 100 players.”
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After proving himself against international opposition, Wu feels like a more mature player than he was before his elbow injury. He is still as aggressive as ever, but he is no longer rushing in his attempts to build power.
While happy with his game overall, particularly his improved return, Wu highlights his first serve percentage and net skills as areas for improvement.
“In general, we Chinese players are working a lot on the baseline,” he explained. “We are missing some shots like slices, like volleys. So this is something that I am missing from my junior practice time, which I hope to improve.”
Wu is also eager to improve his fitness to compete on the ATP Tour.
“I think mentally I’m ready to get over whatever injuries I may find in the near future,” he said. “My body is not strong enough like other players, so I am ready to push myself harder in the gym and in the stretching room. . One of the important lessons I have to learn is how to prevent injuries. I’ve been talking to my physio a lot lately about this.”
Fortunately, he has a team to help guide him, a rarity for players on the Challenger level.
“I am lucky to be Chinese. I get a lot of support from my federation and also from my agency,” he explained. “They’re helping me find these great coaches and physical therapists and fitness trainers. They are doing a great job so far this year.
“I’m not going to take all the credit myself. Tennis is a solitary sport. I don’t have many friends on Tour, I missed a few years of these tournaments. My coaches and my physio, they have to keep me awake, keep me wanting to play games and keep me fit. All these little things make a team.”
Wu at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Indianapolis. Photo Credit: Larry Lawrence
Wu’s status as one of China’s top tennis prospects has also given him the opportunity to meet international sports superstars such as golf great Tiger Woods and basketball legend Yao Ming, whom he called “The Great Wall of China.” He also met Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons when the Philadelphia 76ers visited Shanghai in 2018.
A huge NBA fan, Wu enjoyed a nice side benefit from his time in the United States earlier this season during the playoffs. Due to the time difference, the games are on TV in the morning in China, which conflicts with Wu’s practice schedule. In the US, he was able to watch the playoffs in prime time.
“Here I can relax after a long day of practice,” said Wu, who calls Kevin Durant his favorite player. “I can just relax on my bed and watch some great games.”
Music is Wu’s other passion off the court, and he credits newly released songs by Taiwanese artist Jay Chou for propelling him to his recent success.
“I’m going to give him some credit for winning these tournaments, listening to his music,” Wu said with a smile.
A celebrity in her own right, Wu also enjoys live streaming on Chinese social media and speaking directly with her fans.
“I’m doing it because I have some free time and I want to talk to someone,” she shared. “Instead of playing video games, I choose to do the live broadcast and interact with all the Chinese fans. Perhaps some young players will be inspired by it.
“Interacting with the fans brings some light to my life on Tour. I guess gaining some supporters is never a bad thing.”
As he sets his sights on the ATP Tour, Wu can also draw from the experience of meeting and competing with many of the top players in the game. He was a batting partner in 2017 Nitto ATP Finalsand left Kei Nishikori as wild card in 2018 Shanghai Rolex Masters.
🇯🇵 @keinishikori Y yibing wu put on a show in shanghai 🎪👏
Look at @SH_RolexMasters to live @TennisTV 📺 pic.twitter.com/9juBOJUJR0
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 10, 2018
Thanks to his rapid rise up the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Wu has booked himself a return to the big stage in August, when he will make his senior Grand Slam rankings debut at the US Open – the site of his junior singles triumph in 2017.
“I actually imagined it many times in my head,” Wu said of her return to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. “Take some photos there and see if they put my name on the wall… the things that a normal person would think.
“But I don’t want to think too much about emotional things, because I’m going to New York to play tennis, not to be nostalgic for the good old days. I hope I can turn this emotion into positive energy to be useful for my matches.
“It will be a very special feeling to be back. I finished my youth career at the US Open and now my professional career could start a new chapter there. It feels like destiny in a way. But I know I still need to focus and bring out the best tennis on the court.”
– with reporting assistance from Michael Chen