WTT Contender Doha 2024 to conclude on Saturday
Doha: Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin have landed the first trophy up for grabs at WTT Contender Doha 2024, with the two-time World Mixed Doubles champions completing a spectacular comeback win against Wang Manyu and Lin Gaoyuan on Day 3 (10-12, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 17-15).
Dropping just one game on their way to the Mixed Doubles final in Doha, top seeds Sun and Wang were looking to give their excellent campaign the finish it deserved, but were pushed to their very limits in Friday’s title showdown.
Racing out of the starting blocks at breakneck speed, it was the unseeded pair of Wang and Lin who gained the early momentum, powering into a commanding two-game lead in no time at all.
Everything appeared to be playing out exactly how the World No.35 duo had planned, and before long, the finish line was in sight as Wang and Lin moved into Championship Point territory at 9-10 in game three. However, Sun and Wang held firm to extend the match, scoring not one, but two games in quick succession to force a decider. The 2021 and 2023 World champions would go on to save two further Championship Points at 11-12 and 13-14 in game five, disheartening their compatriots to bring home a dramatic win.
Rediscovering his magic touch in Doha, Timo Boll is through to his first Men’s Singles final on the WTT Series following another impressive day at the office for the 42-year-old German icon.
Chalking up a 3-1 victory over No.7 seed Lee Sang Su at the quarterfinal hurdle (11-2, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6), Boll knew he’d have to take his game up another level later in the day, with No.1 seed Lin Yun-Ju standing in his way. Leaning on all his experience, Boll twice fought back from behind to get the better of Lin, upstaging the WTT Champions Frankfurt 2023 champion across five thrilling games (5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5).
Boll’s Day 3 success sets up a must-watch title showdown with Tomokazu Harimoto, who bagged his ticket to Saturday’s final with a 3-2 win against Shunsuke Togami (8-11, 11-4, 11-2, 7-11, 11-7).
The Women’s Singles final will be contested by Korean compatriots Shin Yubin and Jeon Jihee after both players stood up to the task in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Top seed Shin resumed her campaign with a comfortable win against Manika Batra (12-10, 11-8, 11-6) before adding a four-game success against Dina Meshref (11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9) to the list later in the day. The result, however, wasn’t enough to deny Meshref her moment in the sun, becoming the first African player to reach the Women’s Singles semifinals at a WTT Series event.
Holding her nerve to navigate a full distance affair against Lee Zion on Day 2, Jeon Jihee had no such drama on Day 3, brushing aside challenges from Annett Kaufmann (11-8, 11-3, 11-8) and Orawan Paranang (11-6, 11-5, 11-5) in straight games.
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