China’s Zhendong and Shiwen clinch Qatar Open titles
DOHA, March 12, 2018-Top seed Fan Zhendong of China clinched his maiden title in Doha, while compatriot Liu Shiwen won her third crown at the ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open yesterday.
Zhendong had finished runner-up in 2016 and 2017, both times losing to his countryman Ma Long. But there was denying him this time, as he easily dispatched Brazil's Hugo Calderano, the No 13 seed, 13-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 in the final.
The triumph in Doha will also put Zhendong on top of the world rankings for the first time in his career. Impressively, Zhendong has now won ten ITTF World Tour title in just 15 final appearances.
Yesterday, he justified his favourite status snuffing out any hopes the 21-year-old Calderano had of winning title at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena.
However, it was Calderano who made the best possible start as he established a 7-2 lead in the opening game. But Zhendong reduced the deficit to 9-8 and then saved one game point at 9-10 before closing out the game.
Calderano responded in the second game and went ahead 7-4 bringing out his powerful backhand into play. But Zhendong had his own weapon to rely on, the forehand. The Chinese once again fought back to level at 9-all and as in the first game saved game point at 10-9, as he took a 2-0 lead.
It was Zhendong all the way thereafter, as he established an 8-4 lead in third game and never relinquished his grip over the match. In the fourth game, a spirted Calderano saved two match points but Zhendong had opened up a healthy cushion to finish the match.
“Hugo has a very strong backhand. I had to change the placement of the ball a great deal. In the first two games I was too cautious, too passive; after winning the second game I played in a more positive manner," said Zhendong.
Calderano, meanwhile, Brazilian earned a number of big scalps across the opening three days of the event and gave another good account of himself in the final.
In the women's, Liu Shiwen once again emerged champion in Doha after she edged out countrywoman and fourth seed Wang Manyu 8-11, 10-12, 11-9,11- 6,11- 5,11- 6.
Earlier, Manyu had won women's doubles title but she was restricted to a silver medal finish once again in the singles. One of China's most exciting young talents, Manyu had also fallen at the final hurdle last year, losing to Chen Meng. This time Manyu had earned revenge by beating world number one Meng in the semi-finals but couldn't get past the experience of Shiwen in the title clash.
Yesterday, Manyu looked on course for a better outcome, securing the opening two games to claim the early momentum. But Shiwen, who was required to compete in the two-day qualification tournament ahead of the event, kept a cool head, claiming the next four games in a row to win her 12th singles title on the ITTF World Tour and her third in Qatar.
“I have played seven matches in order to win this tournament. I am very happy to win here. I must express my gratitude to Qatar, this is a magnificent venue. I'll be back next year," said a triumphant Shiwen.
Chinese players were dominant in all the categories, as they won the men's and women's doubles titles as well. Reigning World Champions Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin proved too strong for opponents Jun Mizutani and Yuya Oshima, the unseeded Japanese duo. The second seeds Zhendong and Xu Xin won 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 13-11.
Earlier, Chen Ke and Wang Manyu earned revenge for their defeat against Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha at the opening ITTF World Tour event of the year, by clinching the women's doubles crown.
Despite falling a game behind early on in the match, Chen Ke and Wang Manyu won 8-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4.
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