Germany’s Timo Boll overcame Hong Kong’s Tang Peng at the semi-final
stage of the Men’s Singles event at the Qatar Open in Doha on Friday
20th February 2009 and thus prevented a semi-final line up of players
who learnt their trade in China.
Seeded no.3, Boll secured an impressive straight games victory. He won 11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.
It
was the third time in a world ranking event that the two had met and it
was the third time that the German had won. Furthermore, it was the
most comfortable of the three duels.
In 2002 when Tang Peng, who hails from Beijing, was a member of the
Chinese national team, Boll won a close seven games duel at the
quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event at the Korean Open.
Seven Years Later
Seven
years ago but there most recent meeting is much less distant. They met
one week ago in Kuwait when Boll clinched victory in six games in the
second round of the Men’s Singles event.
Clearly, the German had
learnt from previous encounters; in Qatar he was never in trouble, his
fast forehand topspin was in good order and when directed diagonally
into the body of Tang Peng dividends were reaped.
Revenge
Also learning from the Kuwait experience was Wang Liqin.
One
week ago he was beaten by Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk in the third round of the
Men’s Singles event; one week later he extracted revenge.
In
Qatar he was that vital few degrees more patient, he made less unforced
errors and he was out to prove a point; in six previous meetings with
Joo Se Hyuk in world ranking events, the only defeat had been in Kuwait.
Record Maintained
Defeat
for Korea in the guise of Joo Se Hyuk at the expense of China and there
was a second reverse in the same scenario. Ma Lin accounted for Yoon
Jae Young. He won in four straight games (11-9, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7) to
record his third career victory in international tournaments against
the Korean.
Furthermore, he maintained his record of never
having surrendered a single game to Yoon Jae Young. In June 2001 he won
in straight games in the second round of the Men’s Singles event at the
Panasonic China Open; in the same round seven years later at the
Volkswagen Open China he won again without the loss of a single game.
In Doha he prevailed 11-9, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7.
Semi-Finals
At the semi-final stage Ma Lin meets Wang Liqin whilst Timo Boll confronts Hao Shuai; he overcame Xu Xin in five games.
He won their first ever duel in a world ranking event 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9.
Source: www.ittf.com
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Got to watch these recent matches. Definitely these will be great ones