In a stunning upset at the 2026 Hong Kong Open, Antonia Ružić defeated sixth seed Wang Xinyu in a hard-fought three-set match on Thursday. The Croatian secured her place in the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory, ending the Chinese star’s season in the process.
The clash, which lasted two hours and 23 minutes at Victoria Park, marked Ružić’s fourth appearance in a tour-level quarterfinal this year. Her persistence and resilience on court paid off as she managed to overcome the world No. 38, who had showed signs of fighting back earlier in the match.
Wang Xinyu Reflects on a Difficult Season
Wang managed to stabilize her performance by taking the second set 6-4, briefly halting Ružić’s momentum. However, in the decisive third set, Ružić broke early and steadily pulled away to claim the win with a 6-2 finish. The loss brought an honest reflection from Wang, who acknowledged the struggles she has faced throughout the year.
“It’s been a challenging year,” Wang said. “Tennis is a sport with massive ups and downs; you can play well and then not so well, but you just come back.” Her comments highlight the difficulties she encountered in maintaining consistency during the 2026 season.
Meanwhile, Ružić’s breakthrough year continues to gain momentum. The 23-year-old first drew widespread attention back in February when she upset world No. 1 Elena Rybakina en route to the quarterfinals at Dubai. Her recent victory in Hong Kong reaffirms her growing presence on the WTA Tour.
For Wang, whose most notable achievement remains a 2023 doubles title at Roland Garros alongside Hsieh Su-wei, the offseason will provide an opportunity to regroup and prepare for the challenges of 2027.