Actual World No. 11 beat his compatriot in straight games of the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Korea Open. One more gold for Germany as SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA won Women`s Doubles event
German players ended the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Korea Open in a style winning two gold and two silver medals. Timo BOLL beat Patrick FRANZISKA in straight games of the all-German final of Men`s Singles event while SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA are crowned pair of the Women`s Doubles event. FRANZISKA added one more silver on his account playing alongside Denmark`s Jonathan GROTH in the Men`s Doubles event.
“I have the feeling I´m gaining back my skills and abilities but I still feel I need to improve on some physical details such as the footwork” stressed actual World No. 11 Timo BOLL. “It won’t be easy playing at home at the forthcoming World Championships but I will feel more electrified than other events. I think it´s very important to have a good start and then I can improve as the tournament goes on. I can feel a big difference with the new ball. I think it´s better than the previous and you are able to play more rallies. It seems kind of chalky and has no grip on the rubber.”
Five European players entered quarter-final stage of the Men`s Singles but just two emerged successful winning their matches in straight games: Timo BOLL defeated Japan`s Kenta MATSUDAIRA whilst Patrick FRANZISKA overcame Sweden`s Kristian KARLSSON. The 36-year-old BOLL was one game down after the third set of the semi-final clash against Japanese Muharu YOSHIMURA but responded by three games in a row to secure the final showdown. FRANZISKA regained his good shape after long injury as he prevailed against Korea`s LIM Jonghoon.
Current World No. 89 Romanian Hunor SZOCS created the biggest surprise in the tournament as he eliminated top seeded host and World No. 8 JEOUNG Youngsik playing Round of 32.
SHAN Xiaona from Germany was unique European player in the Women`s Singles Round of 16. Japan`s Hina HAYATA beat her in five games of that stage.
German`s SNAH Xiona and Petrissa SOLJA beat two strong pairs in the ultimate two chapters of the Women`s Doubles event. First they overcame Chinese Taipei`s CHEN Szu-Yu and CHENG I-Ching (TPE) in five games while in the gold medal contest needed one game less to beat Japan`s Hina HAYATA and Mima ITO.
“It´s an unbelievable to win; in the semi-finals they beat JEON Jihee and YANG Haeun. From the beginning we felt the game we played very well on the first two balls service and receive. We became used to the new ball from match to match; we couldn´t practice with it before. It was hard at the beginning but then we got used to it and we were able to achieve an amazing performance” stated Petrissa SOLJA.
Patrick FRANZISKA and Jonathan GROTH played very tense and close final clash of the Men`s Doubles event but lost to host pair JANG Woojin (KOR)/JEONG Sangeun (KOR) 3:2 (11:9 8:11 12:10 7:11 12:10).
Men`s Singles Quarter-finals: Muharu YOSHIMURA (JPN) – Rucardo WALTHER (GER) 4:1 (4:11 14:12 11:9 11:3 11:8) Timo BOLL (GER) – Kanta MATSUDAIRA (JPN) 4:0 (11:8 11:8 11:4 14:12) Patrick FRANZISKA (GER) – Kristian KARLSSON (SWE) 4:0 (11:7 11:2 11:3 11:7) LIM Jonghoon (KOR) – Marcos FREITAS (POR) 4:1 (13:11 6:11 11:8 11:9 11:4).
Men`s Singles Semi-finals: Timo BOLL (GER) – Muharu YOSHIMURA (JPN) 4:2 (11:9 14:16 12:14 11:2 11:9 11:9) Patrick FRANZISKA (GER) – LIM Jonghoon (KOR) 4:1 (11:4 11:7 10:12 11:8 11:9).
Men`s Singles Final: Timo BOLL (GER) – Patrick FRANZISKA (GER) 4:0 (11:8 12:10 12:10 11:6).
Women`s Singles Semi-finals: FENG Tianwei (SGP) – CHEN Szu-Yu (TPE) 4:2 (11:4 9:11 12:10 11:8 3:11 11:6) Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) – Miu HIRANO (JPN) 4:0 (11:9 11:6 11:5 11:2).
Women`s Singles Final: FENG Tianwei (SGP) – Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) 4:2 (12:10 6:11 11:9 5:11 11:8 11:9).
Men`s Doubles Semi-finals: JANG Woojin (KOR)/JEONG Sangeun (KOR) – HUNG Tzu-Hsiang (TPE)/YANG Heng-Wei (TPE) 3:1 (7:11 11:7 11:7 11:6) Patrick FRANZISKA (GER)/ Jonathan GROTH (DEN) – JEOUNG Youngsik (KOR)/LEE Sangsu (KOR) 3:1 (11:9 11:8 10:12 12:10).
Men`s Doubles Final: JANG Woojin (KOR)/JEONG Sangeun (KOR) – Patrick FRANZISKA (GER)/ Jonathan GROTH (DEN) 3:2 (11:9 8:11 12:10 7:11 12:10).
Women`s Doubles Semi-finals: Hina HAYATA/Mima ITO (JPN) – JEON Jihee (KOR)/YANG Haeun (KOR) 3:0 (11:3 13:11 11:7) SNAH Xiona (GER)/Petrissa SOLJA (GER) – CHEN Szu-Yu (TPE) – CHENG I-Ching (TPE) 3:2 (10:12 11:2 11:8 9:11 11:8).
Women`s Doubles Semi-finals: SNAH Xiona (GER)/Petrissa SOLJA (GER) – Hina HAYATA/Mima ITO (JPN) 3:1 (11:4 11:3 3:11 11:9).
