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Guo Yue (front) and Guo Yue brought matters to a conclusion in the Women's Team final Photo By: Hamrid Kamel
| 10/01/2010 2010 UAE World Team Cup Classic
Represented by Guo Yue, Guo Yan and Li Xiaoxia; China won the Women’s Team title at the U.A.E. World Team Cup Classic in Dubai on Friday 1st October 2010 beating Singapore by a resounding three matches to nil.
Guo Yue beat Wang Yue Gu, Gu Yan accounted for Feng Tianwei with a doubles success by Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia over Li Jiawei and Wang Yuegu concluding matters.
The defeat earlier in the year in the final of the Liebherr World Team Championships had not necessarily been avenged but China had shown the world that they are the best, the very best.
Atmosphere
Proceedings commenced in an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. The call of “Jiao You”, rang loudly throughout the arena.
On the second day of play there had been a large Korean contingent present, on the third day Japan had arrived in force, on the final day hundreds of Chinese arrived; flags and banners waving furiously.
It was clear, there was a debt to settle; the defeat at the Liebherr World Team Championships in Moscow had hurt, the cut was deep.
Equally, in the Singapore camp, there seemed to be a feeling of “we did it once, now let’s do it again”.
Different Styles
Certainly it was a determined Wang Yuegu who entered the arena to face an equally resolute Guo Yue.
Wang Yuegu made the better start but it was Guo Yue who made the better finish; it was first blood to China.
Good Start
Guo Yue was well aware that coach Shi Zhihao had put faith in her; sending her out first to play displayed an air of confidence.
The task of Guo Yue was to nullify the fast backhand attacks of Wang Yuegu, the task of Wang Yuegu was to stop the Guo Yue electric forehand.
It was the ability of Guo Yue to execute her topspin strokes, especially from the forehand, that brought success at the end of the first game; it was the same in the second game.
Topspin prevailed, Guo Yue moved two games to nil ahead.
Success for Guo Yue
Two games to nil ahead, Guo Yue progressed into a 5-4 lead in the third game, Singapore coach, Zhou Shuseng called “Time Out”.
The break did to some extent halt the momentum of Guo Yue; however, not sufficiently, level at 9-all, the last two points went the way of Guo Yue, China held the advantage.
Reduced Pressure
The win to some extent reduced the pressure on the shoulders of Guo Yan; one day earlier in the semi-finals she was required to play with her team trailing by one match to nil after Li Xiaoxia had been beaten by Seok Ha Jung in the duel against Korea.
Facing Guo Yan was Feng Tianwei, a player with a point to prove; the previous week, seeded no.1, she had failed to progress past the group stage at Volkswagen Women’s World Cup and in the semi-finals against Japan in Dubai, she had suffered a three games to nil defeat in opposition to the splendid Kasumi Ishikawa.
More Determined than Ever
My feeling is that Guo Yan is more determined than ever to make her mark; is competing in London in 2012, her last chance of playing in the Olympic Games. Despite being a player who would surely command automatic selection in any other country’s national team, she has never been selected by the Chinese for the Olympic Games.
In 2012 she will be 30 years old, by Chinese standards 34 years old in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro will be no be seen as too old.
Top Class Table Tennis
However, it was Feng Tianwei who captured the opening game but Guo Yan responded immediately to dominate the second game.
Guo Yan was proving to be the more secure player; especially from the backhand, the block was safe and secure but Feng Tianwei caused Guo Yan problems when able to execute her forehand topspin and play at a high tempo.
The third game was a thriller, high class rallies with Feng Tianwei leading 10-9 before Guo Yan played error free to win the next three points and the game.
It was a very different Feng Tianwei from the one seen the day before when she lost to Kasumi Ishikawa; she was showing herself to be a player of world class.
Confident
Saving the game point, then winning three in a row had given Guo Yan an injection of confidence. She won the first the first three points of the fourth game.
Zhou Shuseng called “Time Out”. It appeared that the break was to no avail for Singapore; Guo Yan went ahead 6-0 but then with nothing to lose, Feng Tianwei played freely. She reduced the arrears to 6-3, Shi Zhihao, the Chinese National Team coach called “Time Out”; it was time to steady the ship.
Run of Points
However, it was Feng Tianwei who benefited most from the “Time Out”; she won the next two points.
The score at 6-5 for Guo Yan, the Chinese star accelerated, she moved to 10-5; the match was over, well not in the opinion of Feng Tianwei. Incredibly she secured the next five points, levelled at 10-all played at the very highest levels before tamely losing the last two points.
It was victory for Guo Yan.
Writing on the Wall
The writing was now on the wall.
Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia underlined why they are the World champions, they dominated the contest against Li Jiawei and Wang Yue Gu. |
