ITTF Pro Tour – English Open
Sheffield 1st November 2009
ITTF Pro Champions Capture English Open Titles
Winners of the respective Men’s and Women’s Singles titles at the Volkswagen Pro Grand Finals in Macao in December 2008, emerged as the champions at the English Open in Sheffield on Sunday 1st November 2009.
China’s Ma Long won the Men’s Singles crown, whilst compatriot Guo Yan captured the counterpart female event.
Ma Long, seeded no.2, accounted for national team colleagues to clinch the title.
He overcame Xu Xin, seeded no.18, in the semi-finals and Ma Lin, seeded no.3, in the final; the latter having ended the brave run of Japan’s Seiya Kishikawa, seeded no.29, at the penultimate stage.
Similarly, Guo Yan, seeded no.2, faced a national team colleague in the final; she confronted 18 year old Liu Shiwen, the no.1 seed, emerging successful in five games to clinch gold.
At the semi-final stage Guo Yan beat Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah, seeded no.4, in the semi-finals; whilst Liu Shiwen defeated Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, seeded no.3.
Two titles for China but there was not to be a full house.
Ma Long partnered Wang Liqin to win the Men’s Doubles title beating Japan’s Seya Kishikawa and Jun Mizutani in the final but for Chang Chenchen and Guo Yan it was not to be; they had to settle for silver.
At the final hurdle they were beaten by Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young.
Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Ma Long (CHN) bt Xu Xin (CHN) 11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3
Ma Lin (CHN) bt Seiya Kishikawa (JPN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6
Final
Ma Long (CHN) bt Ma Lin (CHN) 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Liu Shiwen (CHN) bt Feng Tianwei (SIN) 11-9, 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6, 11-2
Guo Yan (CHN) bt Kim Kyung Ah (KOR) 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-2
Final
Guo Yan (CHN) bt Liu Shiwen (CHN) 11-9, 11-13, 11-7, 16-14, 11-6
Men’s Doubles
Final
Ma Long / Wang Liqin (CHN) bt Seiya Kishikawa / Jun Mizutani 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6
Women’s Doubles
Final
Kim Kyung Ah / Park Mi Young (KOR) by Chang Chenchen / Guo Yan (CHN) 8-11, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6
Source ittf.com
