Earlier this year, Yibing Wu became the first Chinese player to win an ATP tournament title in the Dallas Open. He has turned heads around with the history he has made for his country and has also been seen to have great potential in the current generation of tennis. However, months after he picked up his maiden ATP trophy, things started to turn around for this Chinese star.
Since his breakthrough in the Dallas Open, the 23 year old has been trying to rise above in the 2023 season. Unfortunately, health concerns become a snag for the second time in the last month.
Yibing Wu collapse at Citi Open, retires from 4-1 lead vs Yosuke Watanuki
The Citi DC Open is an outdoor hardcourt tournament that is hosting some of the best tennis players in the world this year. In the opening round of the Citi Open 2023, Yibing Wu was seen walking back to his chair completely disoriented and almost crashing to the ground before a concerned ballboy helped him out.
The scary incident followed after the Chinese star was dominating against his opponent, Yosuke Watanuki. The extreme high temperature at the outdoor hardcourt Wu was leading the first set 4-1 but unfortunately, the heat exhaustion due to the extremely high temperatures forced the Chinese star to retire.
🚨Yibing Wu has collapsed and been forced to retire from a match weeks after his body went faint at Wimbledon.
Earlier in the month while playing against the American, Wu was seen to by medics after bowing his head in his chair, with his heart rate measured to be 187.
The… pic.twitter.com/XdxNfDA8iZ
— DiedSuddenly (@DiedSuddenly_) July 31, 2023
Fans also point out how unfair and cruel it is for tennis players to be made to play in the outdoors disregarding the risks of heat exhaustion.
One post wrote: “There were already concerns about the risks that players face when playing in the hottest hours of the day, especially during periods of record-high temperatures where heat strokes can be very dangerous. What happened with Wu should be enough to seriously think about that.”
At the same time, concerns about the 23-year-old also flooded social media. Fans are sending out their prayers and wishes in support of the young Chinese star for whom this isn’t the first health scare incident.
Yibing Wu also had health scare at Wimbledon 2023 vs Frances Tiafoe
Just last month, Yibing Wu faced another health issue during his first round at Wimbledon. In the first game of the set against the young American professional, Frances Tiafoe, Wu had complains of difficulty with breathing and supposedly fainted in the dressing room.
Even though the relentless star tried to recover very quickly and continued to play the rest of the match, Wu was defeated and did not make it through this opening round of Wimbledon as well.
What are your thoughts on the ‘harsh’ and ‘cruel’ circumstances in which the players have to compete in? Let us know in the comments below.
