Quarterfinal action begins on day 8 with men's / women's doubles and singles in play. It was a smooth sailing for the no.1 seeded men's doubles and women's doubles as they swept aside their opponents in three games. While the singles competition was full of cheers and tears.
The top 2 seeds of the men's and women's doubles made to the semifinal. Other pairs joining the men's doubles semifinals are Zhang Yudong and Sun Wen (Jiangsu) and Ya An and Lin Gaoyuan (Beijing / Guangdong). Gu Yuting and Mu Zi (Shandong / PLA) and Liu Gaoyang and Feng Yalan (Shandong / Hubei) for the women's doubles.
The results of the doubles competition are pretty much expected. However there were some funny moments in the men's doubles competition between Zhu Cheng and Cai Wei (Jiangsu) and Fan Zhendong and Zhou Yu (PLA). In the first game at 4:1, Fan Zhendong missed the shot and accidentally hit Zhou Yu's head with the ball. What makes it more special is that the ball cracked after hitting Zhou Yu's head (at least that was what Fan Zhendong told the umpire. Poor Zhou Yu...)! Misfortune never comes alone. At the last point of the match the ball hit someone's head again, this time it was Fan Zhendong to suffer (poor Xiao Pang aka Little Chubby).
Interesting observation is also found in the women's doubles. The 4 pairs of women's doubles who have made the semifinals are all mixed-provinces pairs. Although they are from different provinces, all of them have either collaborated internationally at WTTC and World Tour or nationally at CTTSL. It tells practice makes perfect and experience paves way to excel!
The National Games is often the stage for rising stars but the more experienced athletes answered it is just too soon to replace them. In women's singles, Ding Ning won 4-2 over 16-year-old Sun Yingsha in the quarterfinals. This is the second defeat for Sun Yingsha. She lost 1-4 to Ding Ning at 2017 China Open. Sun Yingsha was not used to Ding Ning's serves and missed quite many points because of that. Perhaps she needs more time to improve her technique and gain more experience in order to fulfill her goal of defeating Ding Ning.
Another quarterfinals between Wang Manyu and Zhu Yuling is a 7-game thriller. Wang Manyu lost 2-3 to Zhu Yuling in the team finals which cost her the chance for winning the women's team titles. She was not satisfied with that result and would like to make a revenge in the women's singles today. In today's match, Zhu Yuling started off strong leading 3 games at the beginning. However Wang Manyu chased back bits by bits. In the 7th games, Wang Manyu was 0-5 trailing behind. Maybe her determination of winning the match was so strong that she comeback and forced Zhu Yuling to deuce the game but fell short from winning the match. Wang Manyu shed tears after the defeat but we believe a minor setback is a pathway for a major comeback.
Double happiness for Wang Yidi. After settling silver in the mixed doubles last night, she defeated Chen Meng 4-1 and headed to the semifinals. She is the only non-'Big 4' player in the women's singles. Wang Yidi played pretty well tonight whereas Chen Meng did not handle her receives well and gave many chances Wang Yidi to played the wide angles.
Wu Yang, the best chopper in China and probably in the world as well, had a 7-game match with Liu Shiwen tonight. I did not follow that match but the score tells it was an intense match, a see-saw match and Liu Shiwen won the match with a 2-point advantage at the 7th game.
In the men's singles, Ma Long was the first one to head into the semifinals. He won 4-1 over the chopper (who can play aggressive loops and backhand smashes as well) Ma Te. Fan Zhendong also won the quarterfinals easily by 4-0 over Xia Yizheng. The match between the two youngsters Wang Chuqin and Zhou Kai is relatively crocked as the match does not only mean the spot for the semifinals but to prove themselves to the national coaches. After 7 games, 17-year-old Wang Chuqin won 4-3 and joined Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin in the semifinals.
Day 8 was concluded with the match between the veterans, Xu Xin and Hao Shuai. The 2 left-handed players are very familiar with each other and have numerous encounter prior to this match. However it was not their best match as both are injured and depleted by the extremely demanding and packed competition schedule (Xu Xin plays in the team, men's doubles and men's singles while Hao Shuai plays mixed doubles in addition to the 3 events even though his team bowed out in stage 1). Both of them called for medical timeout and had massage and spray on their shoulders. My heat ached when I saw them playing in pain but touched by their persistence and fighting spirit. At the end Xu Xin won 4-3 after 7 tiring games.
Results of Day 8 (4 September)
Here are the full results of day 8.
Men's Doubles
Men's Doubles Quarterfinals
Xu Xin / Ma Long (Shanghai / Beijing) 3-0 Fang Bo / Shang Kun (Shandong / Shanghai)
11-7, 11-5, 11-8 [Full Match]
Zhang Yudong / Sun Wen (Jiangsu) 3-0 Yu Heyi / Wang Linkun (Henan)
11-6, 11-3,11-9
Liu Jikang / Hao Shuai ( Liaoning / Tianjin) 0-3 Yan An / Lin Gaoyuan (Beijing / Guangdong)
11-13, 5-11, 2-11 [Video: Fan Cam]
Zhu Cheng / Cai Wei (Jiangsu) 1-3 Zhou Yu / Fan Zhendong (PLA) 10-12, 8-11, 12-10, 11-13 [Full Match]
Women's Doubles
Women's Doubles Quarterfinals
Ding Ning / Liu Shiwen (Beijing / Shanghai) 3-0 Wang Yidi / Li Xiaodan (Yunnan / Shanxi)
11-7, 11-7 11-4 [Full Match]
Gu Yuting / Mu Zi (Shandong / PLA) 3-0 Wen Jia / Chen Xingtong (Liaoning)
12-10, 11-7, 11-8 [Video: Fan Cam]
Che Xiaoxi / Wang Manyu (Heilongjiang) 1-3 Liu Gaoyang Vs Feng Yalan (Shandong / Hubei)
7-11, 11-6, 10-12, 6-11 [Video: Fan Cam]
Li Jiayi / Lan Xi (Liaoning) 0-3 Zhu Yuling / Chen Meng (Sichuan / Shandong)
8-11, 7-11, 9-11 [Full Match]
Men's Singles
Men's Singles Quarterfinals
Ma Long (Beijing) 4-1 Ma Te (Tianjin)
11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 [Full Match]
Wang Chuqin (Beijing) 4-3 Zhou Kai (PLA)
11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 10-12, 5-11, 15-13 [Full Match]
Xu Xin (Shanghai) 4-3 Hao Shuai (Tianjin)
12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 2-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-4 [Full Match]
Xia Yizheng (Henan) 0-4 Fan Zhendong (PLA)
4-11, 8-11, 2-11, 10-12 [Full Match]
Women's Singles
Women's Singles Quarterfinals
Ding Ning (Beijing) 4-2 Sun Yingsha (Hebei)
11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 [Full Match]
Wang Manyu (Heilongjiang) 3-4 Zhu Yuling (Sichuan)
6-11, 5-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-2, 11-9, 10-12 [Full Match]
Liu Shiwen (Guangdong) 4-3 Wu Yang (Shanxi)
11-3, 7-11, 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-9
Chen Meng (Shandong)1-4 Wang Yidi (Yunan)
5-11, 11-7, 15-13, 13-11 [Full Match]
Matches of Day 9 (5 September) (GMT+8)
The men's doubles and women's doubles will compete for the titles on day 9. For the women's doubles, Ding Ning / Liu Shiwen and Zhu Yuling / Chen Meng are 2017 WTTC women's doubles finalists. Let's see whether the women's finals at the 13th Games will be a replica of that. Men's doubles is equally exciting. All eyes are on the 2011 WTTC men's doubles champion, Ma Long / Xu Xin, and 2015 WTTC men's doubles runner up, Fan Zhendong / Zhou Yu. However with Xu Xin's soaring shoulder and exhausted body, the door for winning the world champion pairs is slightly open for the Jiangsu pairs. Thank god that CCTV is going to show most of the competitions so we do not need to search for ways to follow these exciting matches!
Day 9: September 5
10:00-11:30 Women's Doubles Semifinals (10:00 CCTV5)
Ding Ning / Liu Shiwen (Beijing / Shanghai) Vs Gu Yuting / Mu Zi (Shandong / PLA) [Full Match]
Liu Gaoyang Vs Feng Yalan (Shandong / Hubei) Vs Zhu Yuling / Chen Meng (Sichuan / Shandong) [Full Match]
11:30-13:00 Men's Doubles Semifinals (12:00 BTV)
Xu Xin / Ma Long (Shanghai / Beijing) VsZhang Yudong / Sun Wen (Jiangsu) [Full Match]
Yan An / Lin Gaoyuan (Beijing / Guangdong) Vs Zhou Yu / Fan Zhendong (PLA) [Full Match]
19:00-19:30 Women's Doubles Bronze Medal Match
Ding Ning / Liu Shiwen (Beijing / Shanghai) VS Liu Gaoyang Vs Feng Yalan (Shandong / Hubei)
19:30-20:00 Men's Doubles Bronze Medal Match
Zhang Yudong / Sun Wen (Jiangsu) Vs Yan An / Lin Gaoyuan (Beijing / Guangdong) [19:45 BTV]
Gu Yuting / Mu Zi (Shandong / PLA) Vs Zhu Yuling / Chen Meng (Sichuan / Shandong) [20:30 BTV]
20:45-22:00 Men's Doubles Finals (21:00 CCTV5)
Xu Xin / Ma Long (Shanghai / Beijing) Vs Zhou Yu / Fan Zhendong (PLA)
You may find these relevant !
CNG introduction
Women's Doubles preview
Men's Doubles preview
Their Goals
Thanks for reading the post. As I have work in day time the post will be re-newed with updates at night when I am free. Follow our blog to learn more about the Games or visit the official website for live scoring. Comment below and share your views on this blog and the competitions. I would love to hear that from you!
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