All four semi-finalists in the Women’s Singles event at the H.I.S.
World Championships in Yokohama will be from China; that is the
situation following the quarter-final matches completed on Sunday 3rd
May 2009.
The top three seeded players, Zhang Yining, Guo Yue
and Li Xiaoxia all duly reserved their places in the last four as did
Liu Shiwen, the no. 10 seed; who earlier in the tournament had ousted
colleague, Guo Yan, the no. 4 seed.
It was China, China, China, China; once again in a major tournament their players were sheer class.
Li Xiaoxia
Li Xiaoxia
started the party in style beating Korea’s Dang Ye Seo, the latter
proved stronger from the backhand than the forehand but in counter
attacking exchanges, except for the third game, it was Li Xiaoxia who
prevailed.
After losing the third game, Li Xiaoxia re-grouped,
executed heavy topspin strokes towards the backhand of Dang Ye Seo, as
opposed to playing with speed, and in so doing forced errors.
Li Xiaoxia won 11-9, 11-4, 2-11, 11-9, 11-6.
High Energy
Next
to join the Chinese queue was Liu Shiwen who overcame a most spirited
Iveta Vacenovska. In typical style, Vacenovska attacked from the gun,
full of energy, revelling in the occasion.
She captured the first game but gradually the consistency and poise of Liu Shiwen stemmed the Czech tide.
No Fear
Vacenovska
played without a hint of fear and she gained the admiration of the
crowd; the fifth game in particular, which she won by the very
narrowest of margins, being a spellbinding encounter full of superb
counter topspin rallies.
Liu Shiwen won 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5, 15-17, 11-9.
Local Heroine
Success
for Li Xiaoxia and Liu Shiwen, then it was the turn of Zhang Yining who
faced the local heroine 16 year old Kasumi Ishikawa; the reigning
Olympic champion faced a prodigious talent and 12,000 Japanese hoping
against immense odds that the teenager could produce a miracle.
Ishikawa gave her all, she stayed close to the table and traded blow for blow against the Chinese superstar.
However,
when it comes to counter attacking rallies in the female sphere, Zhang
Yining is the best in the world and that was the difference.
Photographers
Kasumi
Ishikawa captured the second game to the delight of her adoring fans
but then seemed to be upset by the consistent camera clicking of the
assembled photographers courtside; over 50 were present to see Japan’s
teenage prodigy in action.
Not Distracted
The
attention may have distracted Ishikawa, it did not distract Zhang
Yining, she asserted her authority on matters and endorsed the fact
that she is the no.1 ranked female player in the world.
Zhang Yining won 11-4, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7.
Too Fast
Three out of three for China and Guo Yue, the defending Women’s Singles champion, made it a full house.
She
proved too fast for Singapore’s Feng Tianwei who directed her first
attack towards the backhand of Guo Yue, her perceived weaker side.
The backhand of Guo Yue, except for a lapse in the fourth game withstood the test and Guo Yue emerged victorious in five games.
Guo Yue won 11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8.
Source: www.ittf.com
