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| Photo: ITTF |
Final Results
Champion: Zhu Yuling (CHN)
1st Runner-up: Liu Shiwen (CHN)
2nd Runner-up: Cheng I-Ching (TPE)
Check full results on ITTF website!
Must-Watch Matches
The 2017 Women's World Cup is as exciting as last week's Men's World Cup. If you have not followed the meet, here are some exciting matches that you should catch up.
1. A Dramatic Finals Ends Liu Shiwen's Undefeated Record At World Cup
The finals in Markham, Canada is quite possibly one of my favorite women's singles finals in recent memory. (My pick for the men's side is the men's singles finals at 2017 World Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany.) Liu Shiwen has played against Zhu Yuling twice internationally this year prior to this match. She lost both matches by a slight margin at 3-4 in the women's singles semifinals at World Championships and in the women's singles finals at Asian Cup. She lost 3-4 to Zhu Yuling again in Markham but this is lost better.
As usual, Liu Shiwen was the one who entered the game quicker. Although the competition was intense, she managed to win the first 2 games 13-11, 11-8 with her quick short strokes and variations in ball placements. Zhu Yuling fought back strong in the next 2 games. She often took risk to step around the corner to play quality forehand strokes and her quick reaction time allowed her to make some quick block against Liu Shiwen. The match came to the climax in game 5 both players took turn to take the lead. It ended with a controversial edge ball and the point went to Liu Shiwen. Zhu Yuling was apparently affected by this incident and was quite distracted in the first 2 points in game 6. Fortunately she called herself a timeout and regained her focus. Both players were at the same starting line in game 7. Liu Shiwen was the first one to reach the championship point but Zhu Yuling did not hold back and play 2 amazing rallies and ended Liu Shiwen's hope for winning her 5th World Cup title.
I do not want to use the word 'upset' to describe Liu Shiwen's defeat because both players had delivered an epic women's singles final in Markham and it is enjoyable to watch. I think Liu Shiwen's chances was in game 6 when Zhu Yuling's rhythm was disrupted by the controversy at the end of game 6. However Zhu Yuling had a quick recovery and was smart enough to call herself a timeout at that moment. Being able to catch up while trailing behind and adjusting her mental game at critical moment are some of the qualities of being a world-class players, especially being part of the top Chinese players, and we see Zhu Yuling possessed those qualities. Whereas for Liu Shiwen, I don't think her defeat is a mental issue as she was doing great as well but if her forehand strokes are more threatening then she might have a good chance winning Zhu Yuling.
Finals: Zhu Yuling (CHN) 4-3 Liu Shiwen (CHN)
2. Chen Szu-Yu's Incredible Comeback
Before watching the finals, I think this is my favorite match of the meet. Chen Szu-Yu and Doo Hoi Kem may not necessarily as renowned as the Chinese and Japanese players in this meet, they proved themselves capable of drawing the attention of the crowd and stealing the hearts of table tennis lovers in the round of 16. The match was pretty much under the control of Doo Hoi Kem in the first 3 games especially her backhand down the line has earned her many points. Chen Szu-Yu started her comeback in game 4 and had an epic deuce with Doo Hoi Kem in game 5 which I think is the best game of the match. The tough victory for Chen Szu-Yu in game 5 gave her a confident boost helping her leading 10-5 in game 6 but Doo Hoi Kem played one point at a time and forced to deuce the game. The decisive game 7 is as thrilling as the previous game. At the end, Chen Szu-Yu won the match but injured her leg which had affected her performance in the quarterfinals against Miu Hirano.
R16: Chen Szu-Yu (TPE) 4-3 Doo Hoi Kem (HKG)
3. Bullet Backhand Versus Fierce Forehand
The bronze medal match was played between last year's World Cup finalists, Miu Hirano and Cheng I-Ching. Unlike last year when Miu Hirano clean swept Cheng I-Ching 4-0 and walked away with the title, Cheng I-Ching did her homework this year and won the bronze medal winning 4-2 over Miu Hirano. Miu Hirano is known for her quick backhand and sudden backhand down the line while Cheng I-Ching's forehand step around is very aggressive. This makes the match is kind of a battle of speed of power and spin. Cheng I-Ching was 1-2 trailing behind after 3 games. She might have realized that countering with Miu Hirano may put her at a disadvantage, she played more pivot forehand to prevent from having quick backhand rallies with Miu Hirano. Her effort paid off and won her a bronze.
Bronze Medal Match: Cheng I-Ching (TPE) 4-2 Miu Hirano (JPN)
4. The Dutch Did Not Repeat History But Contribute An Attack Vs Defense Battle
Ones may get bored watching matches after matches of attackers. Here is a match that flared up the meet. It is the quarterfinals between Zhu Yuling and Li Jie. Interesting to know that, sitting around the court coaching Li Jie was Li Jiao, the dutch player who defeated Zhu Yuling in the quarterfinals at 2015 World Cup. The score were not close in the match but I think Li Jie had put u[ several great points in the first 3 games which were even better than the match at Round of 16 where she defeated Liu Jia 4-3.
Quarterfinals: Zhu Yuling (CHN) 4-1 Li Jie (NED)
These are my thoughts on 2017 Women's World Cup. What are your favorite matches of the meet? Comment below and check the recap for Men's World Cup. I hope you have been enjoying all the articles from this blog and please fill in the short survey "What do you like about this blog" so that we can make better articles!
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