Qatar Open: Easy sailing for defending champion Manyu

DOHA:  Defending champion, Wang Manyu of China enjoyed a relatively trouble free start as she defeated compatriot Sun Mingyang 4-0 in the women’s singles Round of 32 at 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open, yesterday.

Seeded fourth in this year’s edition, Manyu looked in good nick as she ousted Mingyang 11-8, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 on the opening day of main round at Aspire Academy.

Also, Sun Yingsha picked up a victory in the same session, seeing off Miyuu Kihara (13-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-7).

Another Chinese duo of Ding Ning and Wang Yidi found their form in some style as they both coasted to wins over Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin and fellow Chinese athlete Zhang Rui respectively.

Ding beat Yang in straight games, displaying her Olympian form and clear intention to settle for nothing less than gold (11-8, 1-8, 12-10, 11-6). For Wang, it was a good challenge to affirm as she won 4-1 (11-8, 11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 14-12) against Zhang.

Feng Tianwei was involved in a rather quick domestic against fellow Singaporean Yu Mengyu, as the veteran came out on top, winning in straight games (11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-2) and in under 16 minutes.

Meanwhile, Mima Ito was taking no prisoners as she beat China’s Gu Yuting 4-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4). There was an air of smart play by the Japanese who knew just when to speed up her shots and just when to sit back and wait for the counter.

In men’s singles Round of 32, Yukiya Uda was responsible for the exit of Hong Kong China’s Wong Chun Ting, as the Japanese youngster won 4-1 (10-12, 14-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8) despite losing the first game.

England’s Liam Pitchford, in the meantime, continued his good run of wins as he beat Spain’s Alvaro Robles 4-2 (11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9) in an entertaining 48-minute match.

In other match, Wang Chuqin put an end to the campaign of Portugal’s Marcos Freitas in a powerful performance that was particularly enjoyed by the fans. Wang won 4-0 (11-3, 11-5, 13-11, 11-4), with there being no point in the match where he was suffering a deficit against Freitas.

Elsewhere, Sweden’s Mattias Falck saw off the challenge of Jin Takuya, winning 4-1 (1-5, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9), with the Asian unable to break through Falck’s defence.

Sweden’s Jon Persson is very much an athlete on the hunt for a medal right now, as he defeated host nation’s Ahmad Khalil Al-Mohannadi 4-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2) in 15 minutes.

In men’s doubles, China enjoyed a breathtaking first round of men’s doubles action as both the country’s partnerships storming to victory.

On table 1 Ma Long and Xu Xin breezed past Sweden’s Anton Kallberg and Jon Persson 3-0 in little over 16 minutes (11-5, 11-4, 11-5) and two minutes less were required over on table 3 as Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin showed their ruthless side against Serbia’s Aleksandar Karakasevic and Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej (11-6, 11-3, 11-1).

In women's doubles, Stephanie Loeuillette and Yuan Jia Nan advanced to quarter-finals following a fine opening round display from the French pair, battling past the fifth seeded Hong Kong China duo of Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching in five games (8-11, 11-6, 3-11, 12-10, 11-7).