Top seeds Fan, Ding out in ITTF China open
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E-mail Xinhua, June 2, 2019
It was a "cold" day in China's subtropical city of Shenzhen as top seeds for men's and women's singles were both knocked out in quarterfinals of ITTF China Open here on Saturday.
In the men's singles, Ma Long beat top seed Fan Zhendong in five sets (11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 13-11). Fan saved four match points in the final set, but Ma Long converted the fifth to seal the win.
"It was always a tough game every time I met Fan, it was a little bit of luck for me to win several key points which decided the game," Ma said.
Ma will take on Tomokazu Harimoto in the semifinals. The Japanese beat Wong Chunting of Hong Kong, China 4-1.
World No.3 Xu Xin swept German Timo Boll to set up the clash with Chinese rival Lin Gaoyuan, who upset another Chinese Liang Jingkun 4-3.
In women's singles, No. 7 seed Mima Ito stunned top seed Ding Ning 4-1 to reach her second semifinals in China Open.
Ding started the game well by winning the first set 11-7, but the world No.1 was floppy on key points--losing consecutive four sets 12-10, 18-16, 13-11, and 11-9, all by two points.
"I felt no good on my services, my opponent gave me a lot of pressure when returning the ball," Ding said.
"I am very happy to win today, I made full preparation before the match," Ito said.
The 18-year old Japanese will face another Chinese Wang Manyu in the semifinals on Sunday. Wang beat newly crowned world champion Liu Shiwen 4-1 to book her spot.
"I hope to have even more matches with Chinese players, in order to make more progress in the future," Ito said.
China has already secured a spot for the final as Chen Meng eased past Chen Xintong and Zhu Yuling overcame Cheng Iching of Chinese Taipei.
In the mixed doubles finals, Cheng and Lin Yunju beat Wong Chunting and Doo Hoikem of Hong Kong, China to win gold medal.
In the all-Chinese women's doubles final, Gu Yuting and Liu Shiwen crashed Wang Manyu and Zhu Yuling to stand on the top of the podium.
German pair Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska upset Ma Long and Wang Chuqin to win the title for men's doubles.
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