A huge upset occurred in the WTA2 Austin Open women’s singles first round. China’s rising star and 3rd seed Wang Xinyu was defeated 3-6, 2-6 by world No. 120 Masalova, a qualifier, resulting in a stunning first-round exit and marking Wang’s first loss of the season.
Rankings & Previous Meetings
Wang Xinyu is ranked 30th in the world and entered Austin as the third seed. Masalova, ranked 120th, earned her main draw spot through the qualifying rounds. The two had met three times previously, with Wang holding a 1-2 record, although she had comfortably beaten Masalova 2-0 at the recent Lugoj-Napoca event earlier this year.
Match Recap
In the first set, both players held serve initially, but Masalova quickly took control, winning three consecutive games to take a 4-1 lead. Despite some resistance from Wang, the set ended 3-6. In the second set, Wang briefly led 2-1, but Masalova dominated the remainder, winning five straight games and breaking Wang twice to close out 6-2. Wang Xinyu’s 0-2 loss stunned fans and highlighted the unpredictability of the tournament.
