SINGAPORE – The inaugural World Desk Tennis Cup Finals will see an exciting conclusion after world No. 1 Chen Meng suffered a shock defeat by compatriot and world No. 6 Wang Yidi within the girls’s semi-finals on Monday (Dec 6).
Wang prevailed 4-3 (11-8, 8-11, 12-14, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 12-10) in a titanic conflict that lasted about 90 minutes on the OCBC Area. It was her first win over the Olympic champion in a world occasion.
It was additionally the second upset of the occasion after newly topped world champion Wang Manyu was knocked out by Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem within the spherical of 16 on Sunday.
Wang, 24, stated: “I am actually joyful to win at this time. I feel I carried out fairly nicely total. The match was actually intense however I put up a superb struggle.”
Whereas she didn’t know who the opposite finalist was on the time, she added: “I’ll put together extra sufficiently for the ultimate as a result of the opponent goes to be very sturdy.”
Chen left the venue with out talking to the media within the combined zone.
After Wang levelled the scores at 2-2 and a quick medical time-out from Chen, which noticed her obtain therapy for an issue along with her proper knee, the world No. 1 got here again seemingly stronger to regain the lead.
However a sequence of pricey unforced errors from Chen, 27, allowed Wang to pressure a deciding recreation.
Wang began the seventh recreation nicely, storming to an 8-3 lead. However Chen then scored seven consecutive factors, organising two match factors for herself.
Nevertheless, the largest identify within the girls’s discipline didn’t convert each and Wang seized the chance to transform her solely match level after Chen missed on her return.
Wang stated: “It was a really shut recreation and I used to be attempting to not suppose too exhausting. Within the seventh recreation, I used to be main by 8-3 however she began taking part in extra aggressively and I used to be extra cautious.
“However when she actually caught up, I began to loosen up myself and that allowed me to play nicely.”
She is going to play compatriot Solar Yingsha for the title and US$45,000 ($61,626) purse. Solar, the world No. 2, beat Japanese Hina Hayata 4-1 (6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8) to arrange the all-Chinese language closing.
Solar, 21, has a 2-1 document towards Wang and regardless of taking part in two matches on Monday in comparison with the latter’s one, she insisted she was bodily and mentally tremendous.
The winner of the T2 Diamond Singapore occasion in 2019 added: “We’re teammates so we all know one another’s taking part in kinds very nicely. It is the final match so I am simply going to offer it my finest and depart no regrets.
“I am additionally actually grateful to the followers right here. All through the match, I might hear them cheering for me and it gave me power. I hope I can proceed performing my finest and placing up a superb match for them.”
Within the males’s singles, world No. 1 Fan Zhendong narrowly beat world No. 17 Wang Chuqin 4-2 (Sep 11, 11-9, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9).
Fan, 24, the newly topped world champion, stated: “It was a really intense match. He gave me a variety of stress, particularly together with his backhand, however I simply tried to not panic and keep calm whereas adjusting to his rhythm so it will not be really easy for him to win every level.”
He’ll play Japanese world No. 5 Tomokazu Harimoto, who beat fourth-ranked Hugo Calderano 4-1 (11-6, 11-9, 14-16, 11-5, 11-3).
Harimoto, 18, stated: “I really feel fairly good at this time. I did not play nicely on the earth championships so I made a decision to start out with extra aggressive play and I am glad I managed to win it.
“Fan Zhendong is the finest participant on the earth proper now. I simply should be extra aggressive and do my finest towards him and hopefully I can win.”
The US$600,000 event began on Dec 4 and ends on Tuesday.
