Seamaster 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Doha
Germany’s HAN Ying booked her place in the final of the women’s Singles Event at the Seamaster 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Doha. In the penultimate round she beat Miu HIRANO of Japan in straight games (11-2 11-4 11-3 11-5).
China’s FAN Zhendong and XU Xin both emerged successful in their quarter-final Men’s Singles. FAN Zhendong the no.2 seed was required to recover from a two games to nil deficit to beat Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV the no.8 seed (9-11 10-12 15-13 11-8 11-8 11-5); conversely XU Xin the no.3 seed overpowered Japan’s Yuto MURAMATSU the no.10 seed in straight games (11-2 11-6 11-5 11-4).
Focused and positive Dimitrij Ovtcharov secured the first two games each by the minimal two point margin. In the third he led 9-5; then 10-9 Fan Zhendong levelled before a moment of drama. Attempting a powerful backhand top spin as Fan Zhendong’s racket made contact with the ball; the ball broke into two pieces.
“I’m disappointed because I feel I was playing really well; the first two games were very open. If had won the third maybe I could have won four-nil; the last tournament of the year I wanted to finish on a winning note” explained Dimitrij OVTCHAROV.
At the semi-final stage XU Xin meets FAN Zhendong; colleague MA Long confronts Korea Republic’s JEOUNG Youngsik.
Russia’s Alexey LIVENTSOV and Mikhail PAIKOV lost in the semi final of the Men’s Doubles event against Korea’s JEOUNG Youngsik and LEE Sangsu (11-8 10-12 12-10 4-11 9-11 12-10 7-11).
