On the opening day of play in the Under 21 Men’s Singles event atthe Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals in Macau, Portugal’s MarcosFreitas had started proceedings all guns blazing.
He had overwhelmed Singapore’s Ma Liang.
However,he finished the day in rather less celebratory mood losing to ChineseTaipei’s Chiang Hung-Chieh and thus finished his group matches insecond spot. One day later, on Friday 12th December 2008, MarcosFreitas was back in the fast lane.
Fast Attacks
He beatRussia’s Kirill Skachkov, the no.2 seed, in six games; he was not asdevastating as 24 hours earlier but his fast attacks after the serviceand a higher level of consistency stood him well.
Marcos Freitas won 13-11, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 11-2.
Confidence Builder
Winninga close game adds to confidence and that was certainly the case for theleft hander from the beautiful Atlantic island of Madeira; he won thefirst point in the opening game but then Skachkov blazed a trail ofdestruction with Freitas hanging on to Russian shirt tails.
Skachkovestablished a 10-8 lead, Freitas recovered in the mode of a Portuguesehighwayman to steal the games; a rueful Russian returned courtside toreceived help from compatriot Igor Rubtsov.
Freitas, alone, went purposefully to the outer reaches of the court with the thought in his mind that it could well be his day.
Innovation
Confident,attacking quickly with the forehand and showing plenty of innovationwhen returning service, especially when circumnavigating the ball onthe backhand to effect a stroke with sidespin and backspin, he grow instature.
Skachkov responded to win the fourth and fifth gamesbut then Freitas moved into a higher gear and in grand prix stylesecured the sixth game and victory.
Heart on Sleeve
Meanwhilein the second semi-final it was the artistry of Chinese Taipei’s ChiangHung-Chieh against the all action Frenchman, Adrien Mattenet who mustbe one of Europe’s most improved players in 2008.
He takes noprisoners, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he gives 100 per centeffort 100 per cent of the time and for him no game is ever losthowever dire the situation.
Clever
Tall,slim he is also astute; clever when serving, especially adopting theforehand reverse service technique short to his opponent’s forehand andvery effective from the backhand down the parallel.
Attackingdown the parallel gives an opponent less time to react than playingacross the diagonal and he consistently upset the fluent rhythm ofChiang Hung-Chieh with his uninhibited attacking play.
Full Distance
Theduel went the full seven games distance; Chiang Hung-Chieh wasthoughtful, quiet; Adrien Mattenet let his gallic feelings be known.
Chiang Hung-Chieh, sheer class, established a 6-3 lead forcing French coach Denis Michelotto to call "Time Out".
Control Exerted
It was a plea in vain; Chiang Hung-Chieh was in control.
Justas on 15th June 1815 Napolean Bonaparte had met his fate at Waterloo soAdrien Mattenet met his fate in Macau; it was not Wellington whobrought his downfall but the stylish topspin artist, Chiang Hung-Chieh.
Chiang Hung-Chieh won 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-5.
Source: www.ittf.com
