China Open: Japanese Duo Prevent Chinese Clean Sweep

Sunday, June 7, 2009

ITTF Press Release

Japan’s Seiya Kishikawa and Jun Mizutani prevented a clean sweep of titles by the host nation at the Harmony China Open in Suzhou, on Sunday 7th June 2009, by winning the Men’s Doubles crown.

At the final hurdle they justified their top seeded position by beating the Chinese pairing of Xu Xin and Zhang Jike to capture gold.

However, the three remaining titles all went the way of China.

Liu Shiwen won the Women’s Singles, crown; Ma Long succeeded in the Men’s Singles competition; whilst Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia emerged as Women’s Doubles champions.

Ma Long, the no.1 seed in the Men’s Singles event, beat Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk, seeded no.5, in a thrilling seven games semi-final duel before inflicting a straight games final defeat on the no.3 seed, compatriot Wang Liqin.

At the semi-final stage, Wang Liqin had beaten compatriot Ma Lin, seeded no.2, in a contest that also went the full distance

In the Women’s Singles event, the margins of victory were more emphatic in the latter rounds; at the semi-final stage Guo Yue, seeded no.1, recorded a straight games win over Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah, seeded no.6; whilst in five games Liu Shiwen ousted compatriot Li Xiaoxia, seeded no.2.

A five games semi-final win for Liu Shiwen and in the all China final it was a six games victory for Liu Shiwen, with Guo Yue resigned to the lot of being the runner up.

Defeat for Guo Yue but there was success; partnering Li Xiaoxia, the player with whom she clinched gold at this year’s H.I.S. World Championships, the two captured the Women’s Doubles title.

They beat Chinese national team colleagues Li Xiaodan and Liu Shiwen in the final.

Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Ma Long (CHN) by Joo Se Hyuk (KOR) 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 4-11, 13-11
Wang Liqin (CHN) bt Ma Lin (CHN) 7-11, 11-7, 11-13, 12-10, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7
Final
Ma Long (CHN) bt Wang Liqin (CHN) 11-6, 13-11, 11-5, 11-9

Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Guo Yue (CHN) bt Kim Kyung ah (KOR) 11-8, 11-6, 13-11, 11-6
Liu Shiwen (CHN) bt Li Xiaoxia (CHN) 11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9
Final
Liu Shiwen (CHN) bt Guo Yue (CHN) 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 14-12, 8-11, 11-7

Men’s Doubles
Final
Seiya Kishikawa / Jun Mizutani (JPN) bt Xu Xin / Zhang Jike (CHN) 12-10, 4-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9.

Women’s Doubles
Final
Guo Yue / Li Xiaoxia (CHN) bt Li Xiaodan / Liu Shiwen (CHN) 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4, 12-10

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China Open: Japanese Duo Prevent Chinese Clean Sweep

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