Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Czech Open Olomouc
The fifth day of the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Czech Open – August 25th – was reserved for quarter-final and semi-final stages in both Men`s and Women`s singles events. The day was concluded by fantastic clash between 2014 winner Marcos FREITAS from Portugal and 2017 gold medalist Tomokazu HARIMOTO from Japan. Actual No. 4 seed FREITAS beat No. 2 and defending champion 15-year-old HARIMOTO after full seven games 4:3 (11:5 1:11 11:8 9:11 11:8 5:11 11:6).
FREITAS had a promising advantage 3:2 (5:3) but Japanese responded by eight consecutive points to secure seventh game. Portugal`s player made an impressive start in the ultimate chapter 9:1 what was crucial. HARIMOTO was third player from Japan beaten by FREITAS here in Olomouc while Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) was unique non-Japanese he faced in his four Men`s Singles encounters.
“I’m very happy that I beat him” stressed FREITAS after his quarter-final game against HABESOHN. “He is a very good and strong player. He has been playing really well in the past months and he has had good results. He is also my good friend as I practiced with him in the Schlager Academy for three years. We know each other really well. I was expecting a really tough match because I had lost against him the second last time we played against each other.”
Liam PITCHFORD caused biggest upset of the day by beating No. 1 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV from Germany in five games of the quarter-final clash. But Englishman lost to Chinese ZHENG Peifeng in the semi-final duel. FREITAS and ZHENG will decide the winner tomorrow August 26th 14:40.
Regarding Women`s Singles event China`s WU Yang defeated Germany`s Sabine WINTER in five games but was forced to retire after third set of semi-final encounter with her compatriot WEN Jia. No. 1 seed Kasumi ISHIKAWA and WEN are going to play for the main prize tomorrow 13:40 CET.
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