Guo Saves Three Match Points to Stun Cîrstea in Wuhan

Hanyu Guo was a set and 4-0 down, then faced three match points, and still walked off Center Court a winner. The Chinese wild card, ranked #240, beat #12 seed Sorana Cîrstea 1-6, 7-6(6), 7-5 in two hours, 41 minutes in the first round of the Wuhan Open overnight. By ranking it is the biggest win of her career, and no player ranked as low had beaten a top-20 opponent in Wuhan since the tournament began in 2014.

Guo, 28 and from Zhengzhou, is better known for doubles. She won the Wimbledon doubles title with Kristina Mladenovic this summer, and soon afterward her father was admitted to intensive care. She has played only four tournaments since. She saved all three match points in the second-set tiebreak and then erased a 3-5 deficit in the third. “I cannot just have a happy moment on the court and enjoy the game,” Guo said. “I will always have a kind of sorrow, so that’s why I made a lot of efforts.” She plays qualifier Katie Volynets, who beat Kimberly Birrell 6-7(1), 7-6(3), 6-3 in a match that ran past three hours.