Korea’s Ryu Seung Min belongs to the very best players at the
present time and he is definitely one of the most feared opponents for
the Chinese stars. Like at the Pro Tour event in Slovenia, Ryu’s hopes
for more finished in the second round against a player from China.
After
the draw yesterday, Ryu was already unlucky. Today his predicted
troubles really appeared, but the 2004 Olympic champion could learn a
lesson from an English teenager.
First Defeat in the Head
Ryu
Seung Min was not in a good mood after the draw for the Men’s Singles
at the Pro Tour event in the Danish harbour city of Frederikshavn. The
Korean world number 8 stated: "I’m not happy about the draw. For the
second time I have a Chinese player in the second round."
As if
Ryu had seen the misery come, the 26 year old Korean lost to Zhang
Chao. Ryu was already 3-0 down before he was able to adjust. He won the
next two games and had three game points in the sixth set.
Zhang
then made five points in a row and Ryu lost again to a Chinese player
in the second round. Perhaps Ryu could have won with a more optimistic
attitude, because he does have the necessary level of play.
Drinkhall Comes Close to a Huge Sensation
At the same time but on another table in the Arena Nord, England’s Paul Drinkhall challenged Slovenia Open champion Hao Shuai.
The
19 year old Drinkhall was not afraid at all and had two game points in
the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead over the world number 9. Although Hao
Shuai saved his neck, Drinkhall showed what would be possible against
Chinese players with a positive attitude.
Such a juvenile
light-heartedness would help Ryu to make better results against China’s
stars in the future again, because Ryu not only lost today against
Zhang, but already yesterday in his mind; in fact the Korean lost twice.
Source: www.ittf.com
