Anything you can do we can do better. Perhaps that’s not quite accurate, it should read anything you can do we can do as well.
Well,
that is if reference is being made to the fact that, following the
Chinese securing all four semi-final places in the Women’s Singles
event at the H.I.S. World Championships in Yokohama on Sunday 3rd May
2009, the men did the same.
However, for the men, gaining those places was arguably more difficult.
Especially that was the situation for Wang Liqin, the defending
Men’s Singles champion, and for Ma Lin, the two players in the lower
half of the draw.
Tough Matches
Wang
Liqin was extended the full seven games distance by compatriot, Chen Qi
whilst Ma Lin, after an electric start had to strain every sinew to
beat Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk.
History
History
was heavily in favour of Wang Liqin in his duel against Chen Qi, of
their 17 meetings in world ranking events; Wang Liqin had 16 wins to
his name. In Yokohama that number almost stayed the same in what was a
battle between the counter topspin power of Wang Liqin and the speed of
Chen Qi.
Time Out
Chen Qi captured the first two games but then Wang Liqin responded to win the next two and in the fourth he led 10-9.
He
decided to call ‘Time Out’, with the benefit of hindsight it was the
wrong decision. Chen Qi won the next three points to level proceedings.
Motivated
Motivated
by the success Chen Qi captured the fifth game before it was Wang
Liqin’s turn to reply by winning the sixth. In the seventh game Wang
Liqin moved ahead 8-5, Chen Qi called ‘Time Out’ but at 10-5, with
fortune favouring Wang Liqin, earlier in the fifth game luck had smiled
on Chen Qi, the three times Men’s Singles World champion was honing in
on victory.
Victory
The
last point is often the hardest to win, Chen Qi played freely, he
reduced the deficit to two points but he proceeded no further, a pile
driver forehand executed wide to the Chen Qi forehand brought matters
to an end.
Wang Liqin won 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8.
Lightning Start
It was a hard fought victory as it was for Ma Lin over Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk.
The
reigning Olympic Men’s Singles champion started like the Shinkansen,
the Japanese Bullet train; he won the first two games in quick-fire
style; his fearsome forehand leaving the Korean stranded wide to the
backhand time and time again.
Great Character
Two
games to nil in arrears Joo Se Hyuk showed his character; tremendous
defence combined with devastating attacks reduced the deficit to one
game. Ma Lin steadied the ship; he won the fourth game and went ahead
6-1 in the fifth.
Incredibly Joo Se Hyuk recovered, he won the
game with the last point seeing superb defensive play followed by a
running backhand drive bring the game to an end.
Passed Test
It
was outstanding entertainment with Ma Lin being severely tested; the
Chinese star passed the test and a place in the penultimate round
against Wang Liqin, the player against whom he had lost in the final in
Zagreb two years earlier was reserved.
Ma Lin won 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8.
Afternoon Success
Therefore the day concluded with a brace of wins for China with Wang Hao and Ma Long having succeeded earlier in the afternoon.
Simply
Wang Hao held the aces against Japan’s Kaii Yoshida; he was the better
player close to the net and in the battle of the penholders he was the
more versatile.
Return of Srvice
Kaii
Yoshda uses one side of the racket only whilst Wang Hao uses both
sides, his backhand return of service with a combination of sidespin
and topspin proved effective as did his ability to attack quickly after
the service.
Wang Hao won 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4.
European Hope End
Defeat for Japan and then it was the end of European hopes.
Denmark’s
Michael Maze, the last remaining European in the whole tournament was
beaten by Ma Long; the Dane a player of high talent made every effort
to attack quickly after the service but preventing Ma Long executing
his pile driver forehand proved a task too far.
Score Line Deceptive
Maze
lost in four straight games but three were by the minimum two point
margin, the final score line did do justice to the efforts made by Maze.
Ma Long won 12-10, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9.
Source: www.ittf.com
