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Chinese star paddlers Ma Long and Chen Meng put their names in the men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions in Macau on Wednesday, the third day of the week-long tournament.
In the men’s singles round of 16, Ma Long faced Great Britain’s Liam Pitchford 3-1 (12-10, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4), despite having to battle through a bitter first game and lose the second.
“Pitchford could hit several good ones in a row. I told myself not to give up and fight for every point. He hit high-quality backhand balls at a fast pace, which put pressure on me,” Ma said after the match.
Japanese Tomokazu Harimoto, ranked third, beat Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting 3-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3).
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju withdrew due to injury, giving his opponent France’s Alexis Lebrun a place in the quarterfinals.
In women’s singles, world number 20 Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei won 3-1 (11-4, 9-11, 11-1, 11-6) over sixth place Mima Ito of Japan.
With the score locked at one game apiece, Cheng responded to a 0-1 deficit in the third game by picking up 11 straight points.
Olympic champion Chen Meng defeated Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa 3-1 (11-5, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5), while fellow Japanese Hina Hayata beat South Korea’s Jeon Jihee in straight games 11-2, 11-. 9, 11-6.
In the men’s singles earlier in the day, world number one Fan Zhendong tamed world number 16 Patrick Franziska of Germany 3-1 (8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5). ). After dropping the opening game, Fan led from then on and took the next three games in quick succession.
China’s Liang Jingkun was in demolition mode as he defeated Portugal’s Marcos Freitas 11-4, 11-3, 11-3.
In the 32nd semifinal of the women’s singles, world number one Sun Yingsha of China got off to a perfect start.
World No. 3 Wang Yidi of China defeated Shan Xiaona of Germany 3-0 (11-8, 18-16, 11-8).
Wang was tested early in the match by Shan’s high-frequency attacks, but Wang pondered his balance under pressure and locked in at 18-16 to take a 2-0 lead.
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