WUHAN: Chinese wildcard Guo Hanyu pulled off an almighty comeback to knock out 12th-seeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea 1-6, 7-6(8/6), 7-5 in the Wuhan Open first round on Tuesday.
Guo, a doubles specialist ranked 240 in the world in singles, entered the match searching for just the third tour-level victory of her career.
The 28-year-old Zhengzhou native rallied back from a set and 0-4 down against Cirstea, saved three match points in the second-set tiebreak, and erased a 3-5 deficit in the decider to complete the upset in two hours and 41 minutes.
A tearful Guo later revealed to Chinese media that she was spurred on by her ailing father, who has been “seriously ill” and insince July.
Guo will next take on American world number 88 Katie Volynets for a place in the round-of-16.
Meanwhile, Marta Kostyuk’s chances of qualifying for a maiden WTA Finals dwindled as she crashed out 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to Maria Sakkari.
Kostyuk is in the running for one of the two remaining qualification spots in the eight-player field at next month’s season finale but needed a strong showing in Wuhan to strengthen her odds.
The 35th-ranked Sakkari produced some of her best tennis in her opening two rounds, and will face one of Wang Xiyu or Mia Pohankova, in the last 16.
American Ann Li booked a second-round meeting with top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka after her Colombian opponent Camila Osorio retired with a lower back injury while trailing 6-1, 3-0.
Jelena Ostapenko handed qualifier Daria Kasatkina a brutal 6-1, 6-1 defeat to set up a clash with Jessica Pegula.
Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2026
