Wang Xiyu's unexpected withdrawal from the tournament, missing out on her third comeback title: was it exhaustion or injury?

Wang Xiyu had just surpassed Sabalenka's 12-win streak this season with a 13-win streak after her comeback, earning cheers from everyone, but suddenly became a subject of concern!

After advancing to the semifinals of the Liuan 100k, before her key match against You Xiaodi, seeing Ren Yufei and Lan Xie in the other half of the draw, almost everyone believed Wang Xiyu's third title after her comeback was imminent. Given Wang's current hot streak and high morale, You Xiaodi would face great difficulty in stopping her from reaching the final. Whether facing Ren Yufei or Lan Xie in the final, Wang Xiyu's chances of winning were extremely high.

Just as Wang Xiyu's supporters eagerly anticipated her advancing to the final as expected, ready to celebrate her third consecutive title after her comeback, unexpectedly, when trailing 2-3 in the first set against You Xiaodi, Wang suddenly withdrew, causing a stir.

The strong reaction from the public stemmed not only from the premature loss of a title many had anticipated, but also from the ensuing speculation about injury.

Wang Xiyu's comeback this season from the Ma'anshan Challenger was quite challenging precisely because her injuries were unpredictable, forcing her to postpone her return plans.

When Wang Xiyu repeatedly delayed her comeback plans, supporters were not anxious, stating clearly that playing while injured could easily trigger further issues, leading to another hiatus, potentially even ruining her career. It was better to wait until fully recovered before returning. What mattered was being healthy on court; with Wang's talent, recovering what was lost during the hiatus wouldn't be difficult.

Especially seeing Wang Xiyu win strongly upon her return at the Ma'anshan W35 event and maintain her competitive fire to add another title at the W50 event, many firmly believed Wang had powerfully returned.

When many thought Wang might take a short break after winning two titles, she chose to press on. Initially, concerns arose about whether her stamina would affect performance, possibly leading to an early exit at the Liuan 100 event. Only after seeing her advance to the semifinals without showing fatigue did everyone relax, even boldly declaring "Wang's Liuan 100k title is secure."

However, unexpectedly, during Wang Xiyu's match against You Xiaodi—a match where she was considered 99% likely to win—she suddenly withdrew after only five games in the first set, catching everyone off guard.

With Wang ending her winning streak this way, besides feeling great regret for her, people worried whether her sudden withdrawal was due to injury again. Having returned with such momentum, it would be unfortunate if she quickly faded back into recovery mode, with another comeback becoming distant.

Specifically, Wang Xiyu's incident against You Xiaodi seemed sudden, but upon reflection, it also seemed reasonable.

Although Wang participated mainly in lower-level challengers after her comeback, seemingly lacking top competitors, and the intensity couldn't compare to tour events, playing continuously for over half a month—Wang is human, even a steel warrior would experience wear and tear.

Some say, after winning two titles at Ma'anshan, Wang's desire to press on was understandable, but this decision inherently carried risk from the start: either nothing happens, or if something does, it might not be minor.

So, with Wang so close to the final and title in Liuan, was her sudden withdrawal due to exhaustion or injury? This is the answer many concerned about Wang currently want to know.

Although it's uncertain why Wang withdrew, considering her related tournament schedule, it's likely exhaustion rather than injury. Wang is confirmed to play the Baotou 50 event starting on the 20th of this month. Withdrawing against You Xiaodi might be strategic self-protection, avoiding the risk of pushing too hard and getting injured. Having already won two consecutive titles, missing the Liuan 100k title isn't a big loss; achieving the goal of adjusting her condition is sufficient.

Many accept that Wang withdrew due to fatigue, reasoning simply: she indeed was too tired, playing three consecutive events without any transition time, seamlessly connecting. This shows Wang performed like a warrior on court, but she is ultimately not divine—she is human, and humans get tired, perfectly normal!（Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River's Sky）