WTA250 Prague Tennis Tournament is in full swing. As the clay and grass seasons wind down, WTA gears up for over three months of hard court action, including the 500-level Washington Open and the 250-level Prague Open.
Two Chinese players made it to the main draw: Wang Xinyu and Gao Xinyu, who made waves earlier this year at the Billie Jean King Cup.
Gao Xinyu faced Czech star Petra Kvitova. Ranked 147th in the world, Gao had never played against Kvitova before, making it an intriguing matchup. Despite expectations favoring the 47th-ranked Kvitova, Gao struggled. She lost the first set 0-6, unable to hold her serve against Kvitova's strong play.
In the second set, Gao showed resilience, holding her serve but ultimately falling to Kvitova 0-6, 2-6, ending her run at the tournament with a prize of $2975.
Meanwhile, Wang Xinyu, the rising star born in the 2000s, took on British player Katie Boulter. Last summer, Wang made headlines at the Paris Olympics, winning silver in mixed doubles alongside Zheng Qunwen. In 2025, she regained form during the grass season, securing a runner-up finish at the WTA500 Berlin and defeating the French Open champion Gauff in straight sets.
Against Boulter, Wang dominated the first set, winning 6-3 after breaking serve early on. She continued her strong performance in the second set, securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory and advancing to the next round with 30 ranking points and $4160 in prize money, raising her ranking to 39th.
With Gao Xinyu out of the tournament, Wang Xinyu remains the sole representative of Chinese tennis. Looking ahead, she faces a busy schedule including the Montreal WTA1000, Cincinnati WTA1000, Cleveland WTA250, and the US Open, aiming to build on her recent success and maintain momentum in the hard court season.
