Main draw of WTT Star Contender Doha 2024 gets underway
Doha: World No.43 Benedikt Duda stole the limelight on Day 1 at WTT Star Contender Doha 2024 after earning a career-first international victory over former World No.1 Timo Boll, winning in five dramatic games (17-15, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4).
The heat was on from the get-go, with Duda unleashing a blistering backhand topspin to mark the beginning of a truly mouth-watering contest. Duda would continue to apply such pressure throughout the first game, utilising his aggressive playstyle to win an incredible first game against his rival.
The second game would prove just as close, yet consistency proved key for Boll, winning two consecutive points at 9-9 with steady backhand loops, levelling proceedings at one game apiece.
Despite trailing game three by a two-point deficit at 6-8, Duda would fight back to level at deuce. Showcasing lightning paced topspins, Duda overpowered his more experienced opponent, taking the game by a 12-10 scoreline.
With 42-year-old Boll clinching a narrow fourth game, play entered its final stage, and at 4-4, it appeared to be anyone’s game for the taking. But Duda, in a burst of brilliance, went on to win seven points on the trot to bring home a stunning victory and safe passage to the round of 32.
Elsewhere, Patrick Franziska outplayed his higher ranked opponent Alexis Lebrun, the former winning in three straight games (11-7, 13-11, 11-9), while Shunsuke Togami, facing Liam Pitchford, bounced back from a tight opener, winning three games in a row to triumph over the Englishman (11-13, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8).
Over in the Women’s Singles, it was a successful day at the office for World No.28 Dina Meshref, who left the arena in jubilation after claiming a first-ever victory over Suh Hyo Won (6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 14-12, 11-9).
After a successful qualifying run, defeating Sutirtha Mukherjee and Lee Ho Ching, Suh looked in top-shape ahead of her encounter with Meshref. With Suh having won both of her previous battles with Meshref, their most recent being at WTT Contender Doha 2021, it appeared that the latter player would have her work cut out for her in Qatar.
Meshref fans may have initially felt a bitter wave of déjà vu as Suh led the way by a 2-1 game advantage, mimicking their battle from three years ago. However, in a stellar display, Meshref fought back, winning a nail-biting fourth game before closing it out in the fifth to score her first victory over Suh, and with it, a ticket to the round of 32.
Yangzi Liu also shone bright on Day 1, posting an impressive victory over Manika Batra, besting the Indian star in five games (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7).
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