Hanyu Guo pulled off a first-round stunner at the 2026 Wuhan Open, overcoming a rough first set and a 4-0 hole in the second to defeat 12th seed Sorana Cîrstea 1-6, 7-6(6), 7-5.
The Chinese wildcard, ranked No. 240, fought off three match points during the two-hour, 41-minute win in front of her home crowd, marking one of the most dramatic WTA scores of Day 2.
Hanyu Guo Makes History in Wuhan
Before their meeting, no player ranked as low as Guo had beaten a Top 20 opponent at Wuhan since the event launched in 2014. Just as impressive, the 28-year-old hadn't won a singles match at this level since Jiujiang in 2025.
But the result meant far more than any record. This summer, Guo won a Grand Slam doubles title at Wimbledon alongside Kristina Mladenovic. Shortly after, she learned her father had been admitted to intensive care. She's played just four tournaments since.
"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."
Despite everything off the court, Guo found a way against a player 224 spots above her. She next faces Katie Volynets in the second round of play on Wednesday.
