China Open: Titles for Top Seeds in Tianjin

Monday, August 17, 2009

ITTF Press Release

The host nation’s Wang Hao and Liu Shiwen, the respective top seeded players in the Men’s and Women’s Singles events at the China Open in Tianjin justified their exalted status by emerging as champions on Sunday 16th August 2009.

Wang Hao overcame compatriots at the last two hurdles. He beat Wang Liqin, seeded no.3, at the semi-final stage before defeating Hao Shuai, seeded no.4, in the final. Both were hard fought contests, with the man who has occupied the no.1 spot on the ITTF Men’s World Ranking list since October 2007, being extended in both duels, the full seven games distance.

It was the 13th ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles title of Wang Hao’s career but the first since May 2008 when he won in his home city of Changchun at the Panasonic China Open.

Success for Wang Hao and also for Liu Shiwen who overcame national team colleagues who rely on their defensive skills for success; in the penultimate round she defeated Fan Ying before overcoming Wu Yang in the final.

Victory game Liu Shiwen her third career Women’s Singles title on the ITTF Pro Tour and her third in 2009; she won previously at the Danish Open and at the Panasonic China Open. Meanwhile, for Wu Yang competing in only her second ITTF Pro Tour tournament and having to negotiate the qualification stage on the first day of play it was a totally new experience.

The only previous outing for Wu Yang on the ITTF Pro Tour was earlier in the year at the German Open when she was beaten by Singapore’s Feng Tianwei in the second round, in Tianjin, Wu Yang gained revenge. She beat Feng Tianwei, seeded no.2, at the semi-final stage.

Gold for Liu Shiwen in the Women’s Singles event and also in the Women’s Doubles competition where she partnered Ding Ning to success beating Cao Zhen and Li Xiaodan in an all Chinese final.

Similarly, the Men’s Doubles final was an all Chinese affair, with Hao Shuai gaining some consolation for eventually having to settle for silver in the Men’s Singles event.

He partnered Li Ping to success, the pairing beating Ma Lin and Wang Liqin in the final.

Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals:
Wang Hao (CHN) bt Wang Liqin (CHN) 4-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10
Hao Shuai (CHN) bt Zhang Jike (CHN) 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9

Final:
Wang Hao (CHN) bt Hao Shuai (CHN) 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 4-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4

Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals:
Liu Shiwen (CHN) bt Fan Ying (CHN) 11-6, 11-5, 11-1, 11-8
Wu Yang (CHN) bt Feng Tianwei (CHN) 7-11, 11-3, 12-14, 11-1, 11-6, 11-1

Final:
Liu Shiwen (CHN) bt Wu Yang (CHN) 14-12, 11-6, 11-8, 11-13, 11-9

Men’s Doubles
Final:
Hao Shuai / Li Ping (CHN) bt La Lin / Wang Liqin (CHN) 12-10, 5-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9

Women’s Doubles
Final:
Ding Ning / Liu Shiwen (CHN) bt Cao Zhen / Li Xiaodan (CHN) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9

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China Open: Titles for Top Seeds in Tianjin

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