Job done, Xu Xin is men’s singles champion!!!
Men’s Singles: Final
And we have our men’s singles champion, congratulations to Xu Xin for an incredible straight games victory over Ma Long (15-13, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5).
Pressure beginning to mount for World champion
Men’s Singles: Final
It’s been somewhat a case of one-way traffic so far with Xu adding two more games to his tally (11-8, 11-7) to extend his advantage to 3-0. Xu needs just one more game while World champion Ma has no more room for error!
Xu Xin the showman
Men’s Singles: Final
Spectators have been treated to a fantastic opening game to the men’s singles final here with Xu Xin and Ma Long trading blows.
Down 8-10, Xu saves two game points before eventually going on to save a third. Then at 14-13 up the top seed wins an incredible rally featuring an out of this world behind the back shot! Game one belongs to the penhold specialist (15-13).
One match to go
We’re down to the final match of the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open as Xu Xin and Ma Long meet face-to-face in the men’s singles final.
Ruthless Chen Meng is women’s singles champion!!!
Women’s Singles: Final
Wow, just wow! What a commanding display from Chen Meng here in Magdeburg as she crushes Olympic champion Ding Ning 4-1 (3-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-3, 11-1). Off to a slow start but Chen raises her game to a completely new level and proves uncatchable – Ding can’t find an answer and goes home with silver.
“I did a good job and I am very happy with my performance here.” Chen Meng
Momentum shift
Women’s Singles: Final
That’s much better from Chen Meng as she starts to turn up the heat. The top seed drops just one point in game two (11-1) and backs it up with another strong showing in game three (11-7). The score sees Chen lead 2-1 in this first to four affair.
Early plaudits go to Queen of Hearts
Women’s Singles: Final
And it’s Ding Ning who strikes first in the women’s singles final. The “Queen of Hearts” looks fresh and ready to take the game to her fellow compatriot – a dominant performance in game one (11-3) will give her fans great encouragement.
Chen Meng and Ding Ning ready to clash
Welcome back. It’s now time to turn our attention to the penultimate fixture of the day as Chen Meng and Ding Ning meet in an all-China women’s singles final.
…and secures the final spot!
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
The legendary Ma Long has managed to stem the progress of Dimitrij Ovtcharov’s brave performance here in his home, as the Chinese won 4-2 (11-3, 11-9, 11-13, 13-15, 11-3, 11-6) in an hour and 3 minutes.
Ovtcharov tried his absolute best at every turn to make this another seven-game thriller, but the Dragon had too much for him in the sixth and final game. However, this tournament will be remembered for Ovtcharov’s splendid run to the semi-finals and losing gracefully to one of the best players of all-time. It will be an all-Chinese affair in the final, as Ma Long faces Xu Xin for gold.
“I was a little bit nervous. It didn’t bother me at all, since I tried to focus on my own game and it also did cheer me up a lot hearing public cheering around. It was a great atmosphere.” Ma Long
Ma hits back immediately
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
China’s Ma Long is not letting this go without a fight, cruising to a 11-3 win in the fifth game. Leading his German opponent 3-2 now, will the veteran prevent a decider and close out the semi-final?
In-form Dima back in the match!
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
Ma Long will look to avoid the mistakes of Fan Zhendong from yesterday as there is still hope of a return performance from Ovtcharov today, with yet another win for the German.
The score now reads 2-2 after Ovtcharov won the fourth game 15-13, after looking like losing the game halfway through. Will Ma Long be able to stop the home momentum that the former world no.1 is riding on?
Another comeback from Dima?
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
The German hope has risen again from being two down to win the third game 13-11 against Ma Long.
With the score reading 2-1 to the Dragon, is a comeback from Ovtcharov too much to ask for?
Ma takes the lead
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
Its a battle of veterans and legends as Ma Long takes on Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the second semi-final here in Germany.
The Chinese has taken an early lead, winning two games 11-3 and 11-9, pushing Ovtcharov on the defensive straight away. What can Dima do from here?
Finals for Xu
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
The Cloudwalker has swiftly made his way into the finals of the men’s singles’ here at the German Open. Xu Xin beat Lin Gaoyuan 4-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8) in under 28 minutes.
We are familiar with each other, since we come from the same association. There are wins and losses between us. I guess, Lin was a little bit tired, since he played yesterday the last match pretty late” – Xu Xin
There was an air of calm as Xu cruised to a point after point and his compatriot Lin could not find any way past his immaculate shot making.
Xu pulls ahead of Lin
Men’s Singles: Semi-finals
After that breathtaking semi-final in the women’s singles, the men have a lot to live up to! China’s Xu Xin and Lin Gaoyuan are tasked with that right now and Xu is the one in control.
Winning first two games 11-6, 11-6, the world no.2 looks like he wants to wrap this up quick. What can Lin conjure up?
The comeback is complete!
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
The Queen of Hearts has completely won over the hearts of table tennis fans everywhere with her simply marvelous comeback win over compatriot Wang Manyu here at the GETEC-Arena.
“I didn’t get any victory in the past 2 years playing against her. I have played one point after another to manage to get the victory” – Ding Ning
Winning 4-2 (2-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-1, 11-9) after being 0-2 down, Ding pulled out all the party tricks for her stunning win. Wang despite her lead and best efforts, could not handle the veteran Chinese pulling the rug from under her feet.
The comeback is on!
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
Ding Ning has the crowd at their feet as she’s now won three games in a row… Winning 11-1, she now leads Wang Manyu 3-2.
The match has truly turned on its head, and now it seems like Ding is the one in control. What does Wang have up her sleeve?
Ding gets back in the game
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
Well the Olympian isn’t giving up, that’s for sure… Ding Ning wins the third and fourth game to halt Wang’s progress in the match, winning 11-8, 11-8 in a stunning show of backhands.
She’s levelled up the score to 2-2 now and we surely have a comeback story on our hands!
Wang leads Ding
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
It’s time for the second semi-final which also happens to be a Chinese domestic between Ding Ning and Wang Manyu.
Wang has won the first two games 11-2 and 11-9, with Ding failing to find her feet in the match. Is there a way back for the Queen of Hearts?
No comebacks for Zhu
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
It was a clinical showing by Chen Meng, who saw off the challenge of Zhu Yuling in all but 45 minutes, in a stomping 4-0 (12-10, 11-2, 11-8, 15-13) win for the Chinese.
“Actually the first game was very tight and winning that game has given me a lot of confidence. I was just lucky that i could have made it at the end” – Chen Meng
Will someone keep her from the gold in the final later today?
Final a game away for Chen
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
Chen Meng has clearly made the comeback implausible for Zhu Yuling, as she won a third straight game 11-8. One game away from the final, is there any stopping the world no.1?
Chen in a strong battle with Zhu
Women’s Singles: Semi-finals
World no. 1 Chen Meng is up against her Chinese compatriot, and Liu Shiwen-conqueror Zhu Yuling who seems to be carrying forward her momentum from yesterday.
In the first two games, Chen took the early lead, winning 12-10 but it was not without Zhu pushing her to the 22nd point. The second game was more clinical from Chen, doubling her lead to 2-0 with 11-2 win. Will Zhu hit back?
