by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
In the final of the Men’s Singles event, Taimu Arinobu beat colleague, Kohei Morimoto (11-7, 11-13, 13-11, 8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7), after having one round earlier overcome Tao Weizheng of the United States (11-13, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6) and doubles partner Tomoya Fujimura in the round of the last eight (8-11, 11-7, 12-11, 11-5, 11-8).
Impressive, it was similar n the opposite half of the draw. At the same stages, Kohei Morimoto recorded a quarter-final success against Tian Ye (11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9), prior to reserving his place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to a further United States player in the guise of Wu Junchan (11-5, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7).
Unexpected semi-finalists; in round two, Tomislav Pucar, the top seed, in his very first match of the event, had lost the veteran French star Damien Eloi (11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 8-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9), who one round later had suffered at the hands of Tao Weizheng (9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 3-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9). Most certainly Tao Weizheng was in good form; at the quarter-final stage, he ended the hopes of another celebrated European; he beat Poland’s Lucjan Blaszczyk (11-13, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6).
Farewell, in their opening engagement, it was exactly the same for Timothy Wang, the no.3 seed and for Jeremy Hazin the no.4 seed; for Kanak Jha it was only marginally better, he experienced defeat in round three.
Like Tomislav Pucar, the trio all received a direct entry to round two. Timothy Wang lost to quarter-finalist Tian Ye (5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10); Jeremy Hazin was beaten by the 2015 champion Wang Jinxin (12-10, 11-2, 11-13, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 who one round later lost to the inform Tao Weizheng (11-8, 11-8, 12-10, 11-2, 2-11, 11-8), whilst Kanak Jha departed at the hands of bronze medallist Wu Junhan (11-9, 2-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3).
The top prize for Taimu Arinobu, it was the same in the Men’s Doubles competition in partnership with Tomoya Fujimura; the duo sealed the title at the final expense of the host country’s Bob Chen and Kanak Jha (11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8).
Two titles secured by Taimu Arinobu, it was almost three; partnering colleague Mayu Baba, the duo experienced defeat in the Mixed Doubles final. They were beaten by colleagues Kohei Morimoto and Yuki Shoji (4-11, 14-12, 13-11, 7-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-6).
Notably later in the proceedings, Yuki Shoji won the Women’s Singles title overcoming Chiaki Kato in the final (8-11, 12-10, 9-11, 15-13, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4).
Meanwhile for Tomislav Pucar, there was success to balance the disappointment of the Men’s Singles early loss. He won the Men’s Singles title beating Ma Jinbao in the final (11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10), having at the semi-final stage ended the progress of Victor Liu (11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8).
Pertinently, in the opposite half of the draw, Ma Jinbao had caused an upset of note at the quarterfinal stage by overcoming Kanak Jha, the no.2 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7), prior to recording a semi-final success in opposition to Wu Junhan (11-8, 9-11, 13-11, 15-13, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5).
2017 United States Open: Full Results – Group Stage & Main Draw</A