CNG Throwback: Back-To-Back 7-Game Thriller

Is the previous CNG Throwback (2005 men's doubles finals) captivating, especially the various soft touches played by Ma Lin and Zhang Chao? While some might think it is a bit "old-school" as we are more used to see powerful loops and quick counter-attacks nowadays. CNG Throwback will take a look at a relatively more recent competition, 2009 Chinese National Games men's doubles final which is full of fantastic forehand loops, notably from the forehand masters Wang Liqin and Xu Xin. 

11th Chinese National Games Men's Doubles Award Ceremony in 2009
Photo: Souhu

As the title of the post entails, 2009 Chinese National Games men's doubles finals was an exciting 7-game, see-saw match like the one in 2005. However, the style is much different from the one in 2005. There were more powerful forehand loops played at the back of the court. 

In the finals, Li Ping and Hao Shuai representing Tianjin played against Wang Liqin and Xu Xin, the 2008 national men's doubles champion from Team Shanghai. The match started off with an exciting save of 3 game points by the Tianjin pairs and spiced up with more amazing forehand counter-loops in the 3rd game and ended with 2 courageous shots played by the Tianjin duo to close down the gap at the end of the 7th game. In the end, the doubles from Team Shanghai managed to win the men's doubles title again after 7 exciting games and Wang Liqin earned his second men's doubles champion at the Chinese National Games. Without further ado, enjoy the throwback!

Winning a title at the Chinese National Games is not just about how good the players have played at the Games but the right time, the right place and the right people. In the next CNG Throwback, we will elaborate more on the importance of having luck at the draw. Stay tuned!

Although I make frequent updates so that I can include more CNG throwbacks before the Games starts, there are always more amazing matches than that I can include. No worries, I have created a playlist to include matches from the past Chinese National Games. If I have missed any matches, please remind me in the comment box, I will add them back to the playlist!