Golden Selfie
Champions have their say
Xu Xin and Liang Jingkun, who have just won men’s doubles gold, have spoken about their title winning display in Bremen:
“Playing with Ma Long is maybe more casual because we have a similar playing style like focusing on the first three balls, using more strategies and tactics while Liang Jingkun is the new generation and every stroke of his is in very high quality. Every playing partner is different. When I am playing with them I try and adapt to their specialties.” Xu Xin
“Playing with him (Xu Xin) gives me a lot of confidence. He also coached me during the match.” Liang Jingkun
Second title of the day for Xu, first for Liang
Men’s Doubles: Final
Victorious in the mixed doubles final earlier in the day, Xu Xin collected his second gold medal of the day in the closing session of play partnering Liang Jingkun to men’s doubles glory.
The German crowd started to believe an upset could be on the cards early on in the final as the host nation’s very own Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang went a game up on the scoreboard. But, it was not to be for the Germans as Xu and Liang won back-to-back games by the narrowest of margins before they sealed the win with a stronger display in game four (11-13, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5).
Feng Tianwei interview
One of the day’s standout fixtures saw Feng Tianwei fight back from 0-3 down to beat Shan Xiaona 4-3. Here’s what the Singapore competitor had to say when reflecting back on the match:
Jeon and Yang delighted with title win
I think it’s fair to say Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun are happy with their performance in the women’s doubles final:
“I am very happy! We were prepared for a lot of difficulties before the match. In the third game we were behind for a long time and came back at the end. It wasn’t easy.” Jeon Jihee
“I am as happy as if I was flying in the sky! Our opponents overcame Chen Meng and Gu Yutin in the semi-finals and we also lost to them last year. I think they will certainly be a big threat in the future. The doubles will be the first match in team competition at the Olympics. It’s pretty important. In singles it will be difficult to beat the Chinese. We will try harder to play beyond our limits.” Yang Haeun
Koreans strike gold
Women’s Doubles: Final
Runners-up last year in Bremen but at the 2019 German Open the Korean pair of Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun have gone one better, finishing on the top step of the women’s doubles podium thanks to a 3-1 win over Japanese second seeds Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki at the final hurdle (11-5, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7).
Success in the final means Jeon and Yang become the first non-Chinese women’s doubles pair to win gold on the 2019 ITTF World Tour!
Boll and Fan react
Here’s what the two table tennis titans said following their spectacular showdown:
“I was lacking too much today to finish my negative series against Fan Zhendong. I have never beaten him! Even though I didn’t get a really heavy defeat my opponent was a bit better in all respects. I didn’t play that badly but I wasn’t in as good a shape as yesterday. It was difficult for me today to hold the tension.” Timo Boll
“Every time I play against him I feel a lot of pressure. He’s not only more experienced, he’s also a professional and excellent player. He has extensive abilities to control the whole game. To play technically and mentally at such a high level at his age, he is a real role model for me. In the first two games I made some unnecessary mistakes. Then I stayed closer to the table and played more aggressively.” Fan Zhendong
Not to be for German legend
Men’s Singles: Quarter-Finals
It’s all over for Timo Boll in his quest for men’s singles silverware and with it the end of the host nation’s title hopes in the category after the German legend’s exit was confirmed by China’s Fan Zhendong in a thrilling contest.
Losing out by the narrowest of margins in the opening game but Boll soon made amends, winning game two in quick time to bring the scores level. Both players wowed spectators with breathtaking shot after breathtaking shot but from game three onward there was a clear victor in Fan, who extended his unbeaten run against Boll (14-12, 4-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8).
“Cloudwalker” walks on through
Men’s Singles: Quarter-Finals
A tight contest but World no.1 Xu Xin has done enough to extend his stay in the men’s singles competition.
Facing qualifier and fellow countryman Yan An at the quarter-final hurdle, a player who is more than capable of causing the world’s biggest names a problem or two. However, the “Cloudwalker” used all of his experience to his advantage to see off his fiery compatriot across six games (11-5, 12-14, 11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6).
Xu Xin and Sun Yingsha interview
Listen to what the newly crowned mixed doubles champions had to say on the day they secured gold:
“I’ll give everything to win!”
Sun Yingsha is clearly determined to leave Bremen with the women’s singles trophy in her possession – take a look at what the young Chinese player had to say after knocking Chen Xingtong out of the race:
“To win this match I prepared very well and won the first two games quite easily. In the third and fourth game I wanted to play fast to finish the match and then made too many mistakes. Chen Xingtong came into a flow at the same time, and in the next two games I had no chance, only scored six points in total. From game five I changed the rhythm. I’ve never played Wang Yidi internationally before. She’s a very good player and currently is in very good form. I’ll give everything to win!” Sun Yingsha
Sun Yingsha through to last four
Women’s Singles: Quarter-Finals
Taking the final spot up for grabs in the women’s singles semi-finals is none other than 18-year-old Sun Yingsha, who achieved the feat in fine style.
Meeting fellow compatriot Chen Xingtong, seeded 10th, in the 5.20pm session of play, third seed Sun established a solid two-game lead but appeared to be caught out by her opponent as Chen responded with two comfortable game victories to level the scores at 2-2. Edging a tight fifth game, Sun then went on to earn five match point opportunities in game six – Chen saved one but couldn’t manage another (12-10, 11-8, 2-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-6).
Reaction from German and Singapore stars
Shan Xiaona and Feng Tianwei have spoken to us after playing out a tense seven-game encounter:
“For the first time, I had a good chance of winning against Feng. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to finish the match with a victory. In the fourth and fifth game I was mentally and physically tired. I couldn’t focus any more. My opponent found good solutions. Despite the defeat, I’m satisfied with my overall performance here. I hadn’t thought before the match that I would almost beat Feng!” Shan Xiaona
“In the first three games I had no solution and I did not think that I could still win. Although I was 0-3 down, I didn’t give up. I rather changed my tactics and played with less tempo and more spin. Additionally, I tried to play safer.
I don’t have the opportunity to practice against someone using Shan Xiaona’s penhold style with pimples. Her playing system is therefore unfamiliar and also very unpleasant for me. I realise, however, that I have improved throughout the tournament.” Feng Tianwei
Dream ends for Shan Xiaona
Women’s Singles: Quarter-Finals
The crowd applauds one of their own for a brave performance as Shan Xiaona’s impressive journey finally draws to a close.
Leading by a commanding three-game advantage, Shan came mightily close to closing out a straight games victory only for Feng Tianwei to edge her way back into the contest. From that point on it was one-way traffic in the Singapore player’s favour, who managed to draw the match level at 3-3. Shan tried to put a spanner in the works early in the decider, but to no avail as Feng completed the comeback (6-11, 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-2, 11-2).
“I like to play with everyone”
Take a look at what Xu Xin had to say after partnering Sun Yingsha to mixed doubles gold in Bremen:
“I’m playing with Sun Yingsha for the first time. I play with different partners and always adapt. I like to play with everyone. Younger players have less drag in the game and want to learn more. The fact that I recently became a father didn’t change my life a lot. It’s just before the Olympic Games. I have to concentrate on the preparation for Tokyo.” Xu Xin
Xu and Sun shine with Gold
Mixed Doubles: Finals
It was to be an all-China final here in the mixed doubles as Xu Xin and Sun Yingsha faced off against Wang Manyu and Wang Chuqin – both pairs having a perfect balance of youth and experience. There was plenty of that to be seen in an exciting encounter, one which Xu and Sun ended up on top.
The chemistry between Xu and Sun at the table turned out to be far superior, running out as winners in four games, riding the challenge of Wang and Wang exceedingly well (12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7). While this meant both silver and gold medals going to China, Xu and Sun can further take the top honors as motivation for when they approach the final games of their respective singles’ campaigns.
“I stayed calm”
Fresh from his fantastic win against Tomokazu Harimoto, Liang Jingkun admitted that he began to tense up halfway through the match but it was his composure that ultimately helped him over the finish line:
“After I was 3-0 in the lead, the match got tight again. He came back into the game well. But I stayed calm, just kept playing and won.” Liang Jingkun
Jingkun wins in style
Men’s Singles: Quarter-finals
Liang Jingkun kept it simple in the quarter-finals, as the Chinese athlete beat Japan’s prodigious Tomokazu Harimoto 4-2 (12-10, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8).
Establishing an early 3-0 lead, Liang stuck to his gameplan of attacking Harimoto’s backhand on every opportunity, getting a lot of points off his opponent’s serve. The 16-year-old Japanese pushed back with back to back wins in the fourth and fifth game, but the effort was in vain as Liang clinched victory in the sixth.
Victory for Jeoung as Franziska exits
Men’s Singles: Quarter-finals
It was not to be for Patrick Franziska on home soil as Jeoung Youngsik completed his comeback with a 4-2 win (8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8).
“Today I wasn’t as fresh as yesterday and Jeoung Youngsik was just too strong. My start of play wasn’t good enough. In the end two or three easy mistakes per game were decisive for the defeat. Today I’m still disappointed. Nevertheless, the tournament showed me that I am on the right track. Reaching the quarter-finals in such a strong tournament isn’t so bad.” Patrick Franziska
Despite the best efforts of the German, Youngsik was increasingly efficient as the games went by and left nothing upto chance – taking him to the semi-finals.
Youngsik strikes back!
Men’s Singles: Quarter-finals
The Korea Republic veteran has swung the match on it’s head as he is fully in command at 3-2 and 7-4 leading in the sixth game. Will Franziska manage to recover??
Here we go again!
Men’s Singles: Quarter-finals
Patrick Franziska and Jeoung Youngsik are giving the fans a treat here at ÖVB-Arena Bremen, as the German and Korea Republic players are locked in an intense battle.
Leading 2-1, Franziska has started strongly but Youngsik has shown no signs of making it easy. Who comes out on top? Follow the game live on itTV!
Mima raises Japanese spirits
Women’s Singles: Quarter-finals
Mima Ito made the semi-finals of the German Open after she saw off Yang Xiaoxin in a 4-1 (11-7, 2-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-1) victory.
Starting with authority, the Japanese athlete kept a firm grip on the match even after Monaco’s Yang claimed the second game as her own. Ito was extremely clinical in the last game, dropping just the one point.
“In the second game, I wanted too much. That’s why I lost it. I don’t know why the serves were considered to be wrong from me and my opponent, it looked okay from my perspective. But the umpires have a different angle and see the situation differently. For me the German Open are a special tournament because there are many different players with different playing systems. I really enjoy playing here. I was preparing for today and watched the re-live of yesterday’s match Ishikawa against Yang. Three things are always part of my game preparation:
1. Stay calm, don’t be too excited; 2. Having fun with the game; 3. Play my own game” Mima Ito
…and Yidi does it in seven!
Women’s Singles: Quarter-finals
It just had to be, didn’t it? Going to the decider at 3-3, there was nothing separating the two Chinese women who had given absolutely everything to this match.
“In the decisive game she has always been in the lead. At 7-10, I just thought: I have to stay calm now. I won and played better than I had hoped. That was good for my self-confidence. But we’ll see if that’s enough for the semi-finals as well. For now I’m just happy that I won.” Wang Yidi
Wang Yidi finally came out on top, with her grit and poise proving the difference in a tie made for the fans’ enjoyment – and some would even call it a major upset! It finishes 4-3 (6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-4, 6-11, 13-11) to Wang Yidi against Wang Manyu in an epic lasting over an hour and six minutes!
Chinese domestic to kick-start the day
Women’s Singles: Quarter-finals
Wang Yidi and Wang Manyu have brought the crowd to their feet with a crazy pendulum match in early morning of Saturday here in Bremen, as the two Chinese athletes battle for a spot in the semi-finals.
It is non-stop level-pegging stuff at the table as one Wang repeats the others’ feat in every game. At 2-2 and nearing 40 minutes, this has every sign of a classic.
