by Simon Daish
Chen Xingtong 4-3 Chen Meng (10-11, 1-11, 7-11, 11-10, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7)
The most in-form player on the planet, World no.1 Chen Meng is out of the women’s singles race here in Macao after suffering a shock seven-game exit at the hands of Chen Xingtong!
A simply breathtaking contest, Chen Meng edged a tight opening game after saving a valuable game point and appeared to take great confidence from her start, following up with electric performances in games two and three. Down 0-3 in the best of seven encounter, Chen Xingtong showed courage to save a match point opportunity in game four before going on an incredible run. Four game wins on the bounce hand Chen Xingtong a highly sought-after ticket to the WTT Macao final.
Sun Yingsha 4-3 Wang Manyu (8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 2-11, 11-7, 11-10, 12-10)
Another spectacular meeting between Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu lives up to the hype with the two young Chinese stars pushing one another right down to the wire in an epic semifinal.
The early momentum was firmly in Wang’s court as the best performer in the Top 4 Seed battle made the brighter start. Sailing into a powerful lead, Wang then held match point on a sudden death point in game six but couldn’t convert. A deciding seventh required, Wang was presented with two further match point opportunities but back-to-back net shots helped Sun pull level at 10-10. Tension in the air, two further points going in Sun’s favour brought a mighty contest to a close.
Wang Chuqin 4-0 Mattias Falck (11-3, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7)
The man of the hour on Day Three but Mattias Falck’s journey draws to a close in Macao after falling to Wang Chuqin at the penultimate hurdle.
Wang flew out of the blocks right from game one with the young Chinese star racing ahead to an early lead and he didn’t look back from that point on. Falck gave it everything in an attempt to lay a successful hit on his opponent, but the Super Swede never really found his rhythm with Wang proving one step too far for the European. A landmark moment for Wang Chuqin who is now just one win away from a historic first World Table Tennis title!
Ma Long 4-1 Lin Gaoyuan (11-5, 11-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3)
Ma Long continues to show why he’s considered amongst the very best the sport has ever seen with another commanding display to book his spot in the WTT Macao men’s singles final.
Decided by a convincing 4-1 scoreline, but Lin Gaoyuan wasn’t a pushover by any means. The stronger of the two players in game three, Lin also saved two game points in the previous game and held an opportunity to add that one to the list only to miss out by the narrowest of margins. Ifs and buts, however, you can’t take anything away from Ma who emerges the deserved winner.
