Korean Open: Shock Winner as Year of Spanish Success Continues

First published on Monday, August 16, 2010

Last updated on Monday, October 18, 2010

ITTF Press Release

Grand Slam Tennis titles for Rafael NADAL at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the FIFA World Cup secured; the year of Spanish sporting success continued at the KRA Korean Open Table Tennis Championships in Incheon on Sunday 15th August.

Born in China but now a Spanish national, SHEN Yanfei caused one of the biggest upsets of 2010 to win the Women’s Singles crown.

Not seeded, she had to negotiate two days of qualification matches to secure a place in the main draw where, on the final day of play, she ended Singaporean dreams of gold.

She beating LI Jia Wei, the no.14 seed, in the semi-finals and the latter’s Singaporean colleague, FENG Tianwei, the no.1 seed, in the final.

It was SHEN Yanfei’s first ever ITTF Pro Tour Women’s Singles crown.

A first for SHEN Yanfei but not for Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus the Men’s Singles winner; like his female counterpart in Incheon, he caused the host nation heartache to collect his 21st career ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles title.

He beat Korean players at both the semi-final and final stages, ousting OH Sang Eun, the no.4 seed, before ending the aspirations of JOO Se Hyuk, the no.3 seed; the latter having caused a major surprise by beating top seed, Germany’s Timo BOLL, the no.1 seed at the penultimate stage.

It was only the second time in his career that JOO Se Hyuk had beaten Timo BOLL.

Defeat for Korea but there was success.

KIM Kyung Ah and PARK Mi Young, the no.1 seeds in the Women’s Doubles event beat compatriots KIM Jung Hyun and SEOK Ha Jung at the final hurdle but in the Men’s Doubles final it was sadness for the host nation.

Winners of the Men’s Doubles title at the Volkswagen Open Korea in 2005, LEE Jung Woo and RYU Seung Min were unable to repeat the success of five years earlier.

They were beaten at the final hurdle by Germany’s Patrick BAUM and Bastian STEGER; it was for both German players a first ever ITTF Pro Tour title.

Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
JOO Se Hyuk (KOR) bt Timo BOLL (GER) 11-8, 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10
Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) bt OH Sang Eun (KOR) 11-7, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-5

Final
Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) bt JOO Se Hyuk (KOR) 11-8, 6-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6

Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
FENG Tianwei (SIN) bt WANG Yue Gu (SIN) 11-9, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7
SHEN Yanfei (ESP) bt LI Jia Wei (SIN) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 13-15, 11-7

Final
SHEN Yanfei (ESP) bt FENG Tianwei (SIN) 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 14-12

Men’s Doubles
Final
Patrick BAUM / Bastian STEGER (GER) bt LEE Jung Woo / RYU Seung Min (KOR) 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9

Women’s Doubles
Final
KIM Kyung Ah / PARK Mi Young (KOR) bt KIM Jung Hyun / Seok Ha Jung (KOR) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 11-2

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Korean Open: Shock Winner as Year of Spanish Success Continues

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