Finding Positives After a Near Miss in Berlin, Eyes Set on Wimbledon

Despite a heartbreaking loss in the final, China's Wang Xinyu displayed remarkable positivity, drawing strength from her near miss in the pursuit of her first career title. Her reaction was unexpected, given the disappointment of losing a high-stakes match, particularly after squandering a significant lead in the crucial first-set tiebreak.

Wang, ranked 33rd in the world, laughed off the narrow defeat, focusing on the positives. She acknowledged the tiebreak would linger in her thoughts but expressed overall satisfaction with her performance. She noted her opponent's exceptional serving and highlighted her own improving comfort on the grass court, feeling confident in her shot placement.

The 23-year-old, who advanced to the final after navigating the qualifying rounds, chose to emphasize the positives from the week. She enjoyed the award ceremony, sharing lighthearted moments with her opponent, the crowd, and her team, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Wang's journey to the final was a testament to her resilience. After a challenging start to the season, she found her form on grass, leveraging her attacking style and newfound confidence to achieve impressive victories. She defeated several top-ranked players, including Daria Kasatkina, Coco Gauff, and Liudmila Samsonova, marking her first tour-level singles final after previous semifinal attempts.

This run marked the first time Wang had secured four consecutive top-20 wins in a single tournament, including her first upset of a top-two player. She also became the first Chinese woman to reach the final of a WTA 500 grass-court tournament.

Wang recognized the value of the experience, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the positives and enjoying the rest of the grass-court season. She decided to skip the following week's tournament to prepare for Wimbledon.

Her "dream week" almost didn't happen. Wang revealed she had considered retiring before her first qualifying match due to a health issue. Her team encouraged her to play, and her run proved worthwhile.

Following her semifinal win, the Chinese Tennis Association sent Wang a congratulatory letter, praising her performance as proof that "anything is possible" for Chinese tennis. The letter highlighted her spirit, resilience, and confidence, expressing hopes for her continued success and her role in ushering in a new era for Chinese tennis.