Wu Yibing of China celebrates after the men's singles second round match against Nuno Borges of Portugal at the 2022 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
Wu Yibing became first Chinese mainland player since the Open era to reach the third round of the US Open.
NEW YORK, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's Wu Yibing kept up his history-making momentum at the US Open by beating fellow qualifier Nuno Borges of Portugal in a five-set thriller to reach the men's singles third round here on Wednesday.
Wu, 22, wrote a new page in Chinese tennis history after he forced a forehand error from Borges to win the four-hour match 6-7 (3), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to make the last 32.
Wu Yibing of China hits a return during the men's singles second round match against Nuno Borges of Portugal at the 2022 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
Wu had already made history when he sailed into the US Open men's singles second round, becoming the first Chinese mainland player to reach the second round of a Grand Slam since the Open era began.
The U.S. has been a happy hunting ground for Wu. He became the world No.1 in the ITF juniors ranking after winning the boys' singles title at the 2017 US Open.
In 2022, Wu won three Challenger titles in the U.S., including back-to-back trophy runs in July in Rome, Georgia and Indianapolis. ■