Germany’s Timo Boll brought the Country Hall, Liege to its feet with
a sensational win over second seed Ma Long in the second semi-final at
the Liebherr Men’s World Cup on the morning of Sunday 28th September
2008.
The German won 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6
Timo
Boll and Ma Long had met on six previous occasions in world ranking
events with the German having only succeeded on only one occasion.
The occasion was in November 2005 at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event at the Liebherr Swedish Open.
All other five duels had gone the way of the powerful Ma Long; in Liège, Timo Boll reversed the trend.
Better Start
In
Liège, it was Timo Boll who made the better start in the opening game;
left handed, he executed controlled forehand topspin strokes directed
into the body of the right handed Ma Long to gain success.
He
moved into a 6-3 lead; Ma Long, as in the past, directed his attacks
into the backhand of Timo Boll but the German was equal to the task; he
maintained his lead to clinch the opening game.
Policy
Undoubtedly,
the avowed policy over in recent times by Chinese players has been to
attack the backhand of Timo Boll early in the rally; however, that
tactic was only gaining minimal success.
The German attacked
with the backhand playing with heavy topspin to gain success and was
able on more than one occasion to withstand the Ma Long attacks with
astute blocking play.
However, the topspin play of Ma Long gradually became more assertive and the Chinese star duly levelled matters.
Policy
More
confident, Ma Long’s forehand was very much in evidence in the early
stages of the third game with Timo Boll responding by playing strongly
from the backhand.
Whenever possible, Timo Boll played with
heavy topspin directing his forehand towards the body of Ma Long; the
two were level at 7-all, then followed the point of the tournament if
not the point of he year.
Timo Boll returned topspin after
topspin from Ma Long as he was pinned to the surrounds before replying
in kind to win the point. The crowd responded and so did Ma Long, he
won four of the next five points to win the game and thus moved into a
two games to one lead.
Confident
A close win and Ma Long was confident, brimful of confidence; he raced into an 8-2 lead; his forehand in top gear.
He surrendered only one more point to clinch the game and create a two games cushion.
Response
Timo
Boll responded; in the fifth game he established a 5-3 lead, Ma Long
levelled at 8-all but then to the delight of the crowd the next two
points went to the German.
It was game point, an opportunity, Timo Boll seized the opportunity; he was now only one game in arrears.
Sixth Game
In
the sixth game the early advantage was with Timo Boll; he went ahead
6-4 but the next two points went to Ma Long; his forehand fears.
The
next two points were shared before Timo Boll moved ahead 9-7 afer Ma
Long had erred twice on the return of service; the German won the next
point on the Ma Long service. Ma Long saved the first game point but
with Timo Boll serving not the second.
A seventh game beckoned.
The Decider
The crowd chanted "Timo, Timo, Timo"; and he duly responded; he won the first three points of the seventh game.
Ma
Long called "Time Out", the pause worked in his favour; the German
momentum had been halted. The Chinese star levelled at 3-all.
However,
when the players changed ends the advantage was with Timo Boll, he led
5-4. Serving he won the next point to create a two point advantage and
then shared the next two points with Ma Long on the Chinese star’s
service.
Victory Secured
The chants of "Timo, Timo, Timo", rang loud and clear as he moved into a 9-5 lead and then at 10-6 held match point.
An opportunity, it was converted, Timo Boll, as five years ago, was in the final.
Timo Boll’s wife in the crowd applauded and the pet dog wagged his tail in admiration!
Source: www.ittf.com
