China’s Wang Hao booked his place in the final of the Liebherr Men’s
World Cup in Liege on Sunday 28th September 2008 by recording a
semi-final victory over the Greek star, Kalinikos Kreanga.
Wang Hao won 11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.
It was the seventh meeting between the two stars with the previous six all having gone the way of Wang Hao.
However, Kalinikos Kreanga had caused the Chinese star problems in the past.
He had never lost in straight games and their duel earlier in the
year at the Erke Qatar Open in the third round had gone the full seven
games distance.
Powerful Players
Both
are powerful topspin players with Kalinikos Kreanga being the
extrovert, from the backhand especially he is able to produce strokes
of wonderment.
The difference in Liège was that Wang Hao was the
more secure player, the more reliable in rallies and the better player
close to the net; Kalinikos Kreanga was not always comfortable
returning service from short forehand.
Opening Games Shared
Undoubtedly the task of Kalinikos Kreanga was to force Wang Hao away from the table.
In
the first game executing that task was difficult, Wang Hao captured the
opening exchange but in the second game Kalinikos Kreanga succeeded to
force the Chinese star back from the table and induce somewhat
tentative strokes.
Opening Games Shared
The win spurred Kalinikos Kreanga forward; in the third game he sped into a 7-2 lead with fortune on his side.
Opting
to serve with backhand short to the Wang Hao forehand and then
attacking with his lethal backhand, Kalinikos Kreanga maintained the
lead, Wang Hao reduced the deficit but the gap was too great.
The Greek player was one game to the good.
Extravagant
In
the fourth game Kalinikos Kreanga continued in extravagant mode, his
play was at time extrovert and dazzling as he executed topspins before
the peak of the bounce and left Wang Hao wondering what super human he
was facing.
However, maintaining superman qualities was not possible; the safer play of Wang Hao prevailed.
It was two games all.
Weathered Storm
Wang
Hao had weathered the storm, the hurricane, the tempest. In the fifth
game he won the rallies as Kalinikos Kreanga strained every sinew.
Beating the Chinese in rallies is no easy task, a fact the Greek ace
realised more and more as the game progressed.
Wang Hao captured the fifth game and was exerting control.
Weathered Storm
Throughout
the fifth game Wang Hao had concentrated on directing his attacks
towards the body of Kalinikos Kreanga, playing with spin as opposed to
speed.
The tactic reaped dividends and in the sixth game he followed the same policy.
Kalinikos Kreanga showed flashes of his trademark extravaganza and was level at 5-all. He called "Time Out".
Wang Hao Seizes Advantage
However,
it was Wang Hao who seized the advantage, fortune on his side,
attacking the body of Kalinikos Kreanga at every opportunity he
allotted only one more point to Kalinikos Kreanga.
Wang Hao was in the final of the Liebherr Men’s World Cup for the second consecutive year.
Source: www.ittf.com