Slovenian Open: Wang Hao retains Title

Monday, January 29, 2007

ITTF Press Release

China’s Wang Hao and Guo Yue retained their Men’s and Women’s Singles titles respectively in Velenje on Saturday 27th January 2007.

One year earlier they had emerged as champions at the Liebherr Slovenian Open; one year later they were crowned champions at the Gorenje Slovenian Open.
In the Men’s Singles final Wang Hao beat Korea’s Ryu Seung Min in convincing style, extracting revenge for the defeat he had suffered at the hands of his adversary when the two had clashed in the final of the Men’s Singles event at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.

The Chinese star won 11-9, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 having beaten colleague and second seed, Ma Lin in the semis 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9. Meanwhile, at the same stage Ryu Seung Min had accounted for Hong Kong’s Li Ching 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5, 4-11, 14-12.

A repeat success for Wang Hao and an ever more impressive repeat success for Guo Yue; in 2006 she won the Women’s Singles titles at the first two ITTF Pro Tour tournaments of the year. She won at the Liebherr Slovenian Open and at the Liebherr Croatian Open.

In 2007 the dates were reversed but it made no difference to Guo Yue. She won both titles again and furthermore beat Wang Nan, the former Olympic and World champion in both finals.

It is a quite remarkable achievement especially when taking into account the fact that Guo Yue is only eighteen years old.

On Saturday 27th January 2007 she beat Li Xiaoxia in the semis 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6 before overcoming Wang Nan 5-11, 14-12, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9. Meanwhile, at the penultimate stage Wang Nan defeated her compatriot, Zhang Yining, the reigning Olympic and World champion 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9.

Defeat for Zhang Yining but there was success. Partnering Guo Yan, the duo from Beijing, won the Women’s Doubles title beating Chen Qing and Li Xiaoxia in the final 10-12, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6. It was the second consecutive ITTF Pro Tour Women’s Doubles final for Chen Qing and Li Xiaoxia; in Croatia they had clinched gold, in Slovenia they had to settle for silver.

Success for China and in the Men’s Doubles they also succeeded. Chen Qi and Wang Liqin combined to beat Hong Kong’s Ko Lai Chak and Li Ching in the final in five games. They won 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8.

All four senior titles on offer in Velenje went to China; it was a repeat of the previous week in Croatia. The Chinese stars were dominant, the best in the world.

Image: Wang Hao, the Men's Singles champion in Velenje

Slovenian Open: Wang Hao retains Title

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