Social

Hsieh Su-Wei's surprise return to the WTA is muddled by visa mix-up

By Liya Davidov Feb 17, 2023
Social

It's a girl! Belinda Bencic welcomes her first child, a daughter named Bella

By Baseline Staff Apr 24, 2024
Social

Darwin Blanch, 16, has hilarious reaction to drawing Rafael Nadal at Mutua Madrid Open

By Baseline Staff Apr 22, 2024
Social

Simona Halep says her body 'needs a little more time to be ready' before more tournament play

By Baseline Staff Apr 21, 2024
Social

'Got any tips?': Novak Djokovic jokes with world's newest tennis star, Matthew McConaughey

By Baseline Staff Apr 20, 2024
Social

Carlos Alcaraz, Paula Badosa lead tributes to retiring Garbiñe Muguruza

By Baseline Staff Apr 20, 2024
Social

Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams among stars who honor science achievement at Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

By Baseline Staff Apr 19, 2024
Social

Andy Murray returns to practice court after confirming he won't have surgery for ankle injury

By Associated Press Apr 19, 2024
Social

“Lucky charm” Ons Jabeur snaps five-match losing streak in Stuttgart

By Baseline Staff Apr 17, 2024
Social

Mikael Ymer changes his mind on return to tennis amid anti-doping ban: "Retirement was boring"

By Stephanie Livaudais Apr 15, 2024
Social

Hsieh Su-Wei's surprise return to the WTA is muddled by visa mix-up

The former WTA doubles No. 1 intended to play her first tournament since the end of 2021 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

ByLiya Davidov

Published Feb 17, 2023

FLASHBACK: Hsieh was last on court for the 2021 WTA Finals, where she finished runner-up alongside Elise Mertens.

Advertising

Arriving to Dubai with high expectations, a doubles player awaits the arrival of her surprise partner. The match dates are set and soon approaching, but her partner is yet to be seen. And just as the deadline to withdraw from the tournament—or switch partners—passes, she receives the notice that partner Hsieh Su-Wei's visa has been declined.

“I get visa to the wrong country,” said Hsieh, the 37-year-old hoping to make a surprise appearance at the WTA 1000.

With a career-high No. 1 ranking in doubles and No. 23 in singles, Hsieh has made her mark on the WTA tour since turning pro in the early 2000s, but hasn't been seen on court since the end of 2021 when she and Elise Mertens finished runner-up at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara.

Her under-the-radar plan turns exposed when the travel agency would not let her pass, instead advising her to pursue the correct visa for transport. By the time she would receive the correct visa, however, she would be arriving less than a day before her first-round match.

"I was supposed to surprise everyone," she wrote on Facebook. "Turns out a problem to (my) partner."

Advertising

Hoping to show everyone her “strong thighs” in Dubai, Hsieh is now calling off her Middle Eastern pursuits.

There is a chance that the inactive, not retired, WTA favorite will make efforts to join the next 1000s event—conceivably a Grand Slam—despite it not working out this time.