Golden selfies
Women’s Singles champion reacts
Now two-time women’s singles champion on the Austrian Open stage, Mima Ito thanked her fans for their support throughout her campaign in Linz:
“I tried to come into the rallies and win point by point. Thank you very much to all Japanese fans and also the fantastic Austrian crowd who are always cheering for me. DANKESCHÖN!” Mima Ito
Mima Ito is 2019 Austrian Open champion!!!
Women’s Singles: Final
Trailing 7-8, Ito manages to edge in front and gain a match point opportunity at 10-9. Zhu survives the first test to level at 10-10, Ito has another chance at 11-10 but this time she makes it over the line 12-10 to collect the women’s singles crown (11-5, 16-18, 11-7, 13-11, 12-10).
It’s all smiles for Mima Ito who takes home her first women’s singles title of the 2019 ITTF World Tour calendar. She also improves on her recent runner-up finishes achieved at last month’s 2019 Swedish Open and 2019 German Open.
Gap widens as Ito closes in
Women’s Singles: Final
While she could have been distracted by the disappointment of game two Ito puts it behind her quickly, taking game three by a four point margin (11-7). Zhu fares much better in the following game, saving two game points, but Ito eventually gets over the line at the third attempt (13-11). Ito needs just one more game to secure the title – can she convert?
Zhu edges crucial game
Women’s Singles: Final
This could prove to be a pivotal game in the match as Zhu Yuling saves three game points, converting at the fifth game point opportunity in her favour (18-16) to level the scores at one game apiece. Is the momentum beginning to swing in the top seed’s direction?
Ito off to blistering start
Women’s Singles: Final
What a start to the women’s singles final as Mima Ito produces a dominant display to take the opening game 11-5. There’s still a long way to go but could this be a sign of things to come?
Play underway
Zhu Yuling and Mima Ito’s head-to-head has just got underway – who will come away with the women’s singles trophy in Linz?
“This will boost my self esteem”
“After winning the title at the German Open, now I’ve won the Austrian Open. This will boost my self esteem for further challenges to come. I knew my opponent very well, as we practice together in the Chinese national team. In my opinion winning the first game was crucial, cause I got the confidence which I needed to succeed.” Fan Zhendong
Champion and runner-up
Next Up: Women’s Singles Final
Following a short break in proceedings for the men’s singles awards ceremony, the final fixture of the day sees top seed Zhu Yuling face 2016 Austrian Open champion Mima Ito in the women’s singles final.
Back-to-back titles for Fan Zhendong (12-10, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5)
Men’s Singles: Final
Another five-point margin separates the two finalists in game three to put Fan firmly in control of the match. Zhao attempts to break the top seed’s flow with a time out in game four, but to no avail as Fan completes the job in straight games (12-10, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5).
Fan makes it back-to-back men’s singles successes on the ITTF World Tour having also won at last month’s 2019 German Open.
Fan turns up the heat
Men’s Singles: Final
Once again Fan storms into a 7-2 lead. Three points in a row and all of a sudden questions are being asked if Zhao can replicate his opening game recovery, but not this time as Fan drops just one further point (11-6) to move two games clear of his unseeded opponent. Two games down and Fan is halfway there – can Zhao fight his way back into this one?
Commendable comeback attempt but Fan moves in front
Men’s Singles: Final
Both players have approached the opening game with an aggressive stance, establishing a very high pace early in this one.
2-7 down, Zhao Zihao shows he’s got plenty of fight in him, pulling level at 10-10. At the third game point attempt Fan Zhendong finally converts to take game one 12-10.
Here we go!
Players are on court, the warm up is complete. It’s time for the men’s singles final as Fan Zhendong and Zhao Zihao go head-to-head.
Next Up: Men’s Singles Final
We have a short break in play in Linz – we’ll be back from 4.00pm local time as World no.1 Fan Zhendong takes on qualifier Zhao Zihao in an all-China men’s singles title decider.
Top seed discusses semi-final victory
Women’s Singles: Semi-Finals
While it may have been another gruelling affair for Zhu Yuling, the top seed is ultimately pleased to have put her name through to the gold medal contest in Linz:
“Even if I’d like to win my matches 4-0, it’s not always possible. I’m happy to reach the finals, no matter how close this match got. I’m very excited to play the finals and try to prepare as well as possible.” Zhu Yuling
Another decider, another epic!
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
The Chinese athletes have lit up the TipsArena here in Linz today, as the second semi-final of the women’s singles went to a deciding-seventh-game with Wang Yidi and Zhu Yuling making the fans thank their stars to have attended this 1 hour 2 minute match!
After pegging the score back to 3-3, Wang had clearly given the impression to Zhu that it would take something special to see off her challenge. In the end, that’s exactly what Zhu did – using her loop shot to perfection and taking the match with a gritty display in the final game (11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-3). Japan’s Mima Ito in the final awaits.
Wang hits back!
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
Wang Yidi has no plans of letting this be an easy fight! The young Chinese has a comeback on her mind as she won back-to-back game wins, with the score now level at 2-2!
Zhu Yuling looked a bit fazed for those games but is now intent on swinging the momentum back in her favor. Are we in for a decider?
Zhu takes command
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
The last of the semi-finals has kicked off for the day, as Chinese Zhu Yuling has taken a 2-0 (11-8, 11-7) lead over compatriot Wang Yidi.
The top seed Zhu is taking no prisoners at the table, as Wang is finding out with a barrage of attacking forehands keep coming her way. Will the 24-year-old Zhu make the final without losing a game?
Mima makes the final!
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
In a statement of intent, Mima Ito blazed past China’s Qian Tianyi as the 19-year-old Japanese won in straight games (11-6, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6) to assure herself a place on the podium.
“Maybe it looked easy from the outside, but actually it was a really tough fight. Last year I could win the doubles, this year I will my prepare myself for the finals.” Mima Ito
Her attacking shakehand play put Tianyi on the backfoot from the start, meaning Ito was in complete control over where the rallies were headed. Having had such an impressive run until the semi-finals, Tianyi certainly came up against one of the table tennis elite as the world no. 7 Ito showed her class in Linz.
Ito puts one foot nearer to the golden match
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
Mima Ito has started with a powerful showing against China’s Qian Tianyi as the Japanese has a 2-0 (11-6, 11-9) lead going into the third game.
In under 16 minutes, Ito has certainly put a foot in the women’s final as Tianyi will need to make a major comeback in order to make this interesting.
Chinese domestic setup for the final
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
Hugo Calderano was unable to stop the impressive run of world no. 41 as Zhao Zihao made the men’s final a domestic battle between Fan Zhendong and himself, as he won 4-0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5) against the Brazilian.
“Since I started qualifications, I had to play against a lot of good players at this tournament. I’m very happy to reach the finals and I will be prepared for my match against Fan Zhendong.” Zhao Zihao
Needing a little over 37 minutes of play time, Zhao was fast off the table in every game displaying a variety of shot-making. Hugo’s best efforts to get back into the match were to be in vain, as his return to the World Tour ended just before the final.
Zhao begins with a strong lead
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
It’s time for the second semi-final of the day, and China’s Zhao Zihao seems set to make it a domestic final later in the day, taking a 2-0 lead over Brazil’s Hugo Calderano.
In about 20 minutes of play, Zhao has won the two games 12-10 and 11-8, meaning Hugo has it all to do in the coming games. The returning Brazilian will never give up and that means we might have another epic on our hands.
Fan wins epic clash!
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
After saving 3 match points in the final game, Fan Zhendong claimed a mammoth victory over Timo Boll which lasted over an hour and eight minutes (11-2, 4-11, 11-13, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 14-12).
“This was the best Timo Boll ever played against me. In the end my mental strength helped me to succeed. I’m just overwhelmed to be in the finals where I try to maintain my performance from this morning.” Fan Zhendong
Fan and Boll have given the fans their money’s worth in Austria, with this semi-final having it all. At a 3-3 deadlock, neither athlete looked like giving up and that meant rallies-galore for all to enjoy. Eventually, it came down to Fan saving a match point at 8-10 down, from where he just channeled all of his remaining strength to secure yet another World Tour final spot.
Zhendong takes us to a decider!
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
Well this is what you would expect from a #ClashofTitans! Fan Zhendong just won two games back to back and has taken his opponent Timo Boll to a seventh and deciding game!
Winning the fifth and sixth games 11-3 and 11-5, the Chinese has wrestled back control of the match as well as swung the momentum his way. Will it be enough?
Boll in control, can Fan make a comeback?
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
Timo Boll has taken a 3-1 lead in the semi-final here in Linz, as Fan Zhendong looks a little flustered with the German’s speed of play at the table.
Boll won the third and fourth games 13-11 and 11-5, giving Fan no room to work with. Will the world no.1 make a comeback?
Fan and Boll start with fireworks
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
China’s Fan Zhendong and German legend Timo Boll have kick-started the final day here in Linz with a cracking set of games, taking the match to a 1-1 score.
The world no.1 Fan was showcasing his forehand’s prowess, leading away the first game from Boll in no time. The German responded with equal vigor in the next game, winning 11-4 after having a huge 4-0 lead. Which one of these two stalwarts will blink first?
