Dimitrij OVTCHAROV defeated two hardest opponents in the last two stages of the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open first top seed Chinese FAN Zhendong and then his compatriot both times after full seven games
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV`s fantasy season continued on Sunday as he beat his compatriot Timo BOLL after full seven games to lift the title of the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open in Magdeburg – 4:3 (9:11 11:5 11:9 6:11 11:7 7:11 11:6). It was a great pleasure for home crowd to see all-German final but as well big satisfaction for OVTCHAROV who won Men`s World Cup three weeks ago in Belgium beating his today`s opponent BOLL in six sets.
This is the OVTCHAROV`s third German Open`s crown (2012 2014 2017) but still stands one behind BOLL (2004 2006 2008 2009) last year`s winner China`s MA Long (2007 2010 2015 2016) and Eberhard SCHOLER (1962 1963 1964 1970) last German who took gold before BOLL`s triumph in 2004.
The 2017 German Open`s no. 3 seed OVTCHAROV who was crowned champion of ITTF-Europe Top 16 earlier this year has been extended to full distance by top seed FAN Zhendong playing semi-final game. China`s star the 2013 winner lost first two games but managed to draw the scores level at two games apiece. Decisive seventh was the exciting one as Chinese managed to stay in the fight faced with three consecutive match balls (8:10 10:11). Then FAN had two chances (12:11 13:12) but next three points went to the German`s side.
“I’m extremely excited to win my first match against FAN Zhendong stated Dimitrij OVTCHAROV after his semi-final victory. “The first time I met him in the Chinese Super League I was up 2-0 and last time we played at the World Tour Grand Finals last year I was 2-0 up as well and today as well he always comes back strong. In the third and fourth games I had no chance but I tried my best I basically took all the chances I got… I’m very pleased”.
Other semi-final encounter was not so tense. BOLL swept Korea`s LEE Sangsu in four games 4:0 (11:4 11:9 11:4 11:9)
“He couldn’t feel my game so well my rhythm my serves. He was thinking maybe too much and I confused him a little bit with my tactics and variations. It was tactically an unbelievably good game” explained Timo BOLL after his semi-final win.
Two top seeds met in the all-Chinese finals of the Women`s Singles event as no. 2 CHEN Meng overcame no. 1 ZHU Yuling. This breathtaking clash was concluded after full seven games after great comeback of CHEN who was two sets behind after the fourth set.
Men`s Singles Semi-finals
FAN Zhendong (China) – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) 3:4 (11:13 7:11 11:7 11:3 9:11 11:8 13:15)
Timo BOLL (Germany) – LEE Sangsu (Korea) 4:0 (11:4 11:9 11:4 11:9)
Men`s Singles final
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) – Timo BOLL (Germany) 4:3 (9:11 11:5 11:9 6:11 11:7 7:11 11:6)
Women`s Singles Semi-finals
ZHU Yuling (China) – Kasumi ISHIKAWA (Japan) 4:1 (11:4 12:10 12:14 11:5 11:8)
CHEN Meng (China) – FENG Yalan (China) 4:2 (10:12 11:6 11:4 6:11 15:13 11:5)
Women`s Singles final
ZHU Yuling (China) – CHEN Meng (China) 3:4 (11:9 11:8 11:13 11:9 11:13 9:11 4:11)
Men`s Doubles final
JEOUNG Youngsik / LEE Sangsu (Korea) – Tomokazu HARIMOTO / Yuto KIZUKURI (Japan) 3:2 (8:11 3:11 11:5 16:14 11:6)
Women`s Doubles final
Hina HAYATA / Miu HIRANO (Japan) – CHEN Szu-Yu / CHENG I-Ching (Chinese Taipei) 3:0 (11:7 11:8 11:9)
