Ding Ning Shows Nerves of Steel to Repeat Steel City Win in Dubai
The winner in the city of Sheffield at the English Open earlier this year in January, Ding Ning repeated that success at the United Arab Emirates Open in Dubai on Saturday 19th February 2011.
Sheffield is famous for the production of steel; it was steel, nerves of steel that were required to win in Dubai.
In a repeat of the English Open Women’s Singles final Ding Ning beat Guo Yan in a seven games duel of the highest order.
She won 8-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8
Third ITTF Pro Tour Women’s Singles Crown Including ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals it was for Ding Ning her third win in six finals; whilst for Guo Yan it was the 14th time in 20 Women’s Singles final appearances that she has finished in the role of bridesmaid.
The facts may not at first sight appear stunning but one must take into consideration that when Ding Ning and Guo Yan play in an ITTF Pro Tour tournament, their compatriots are present, the best in the world; the superb Chinese.
They have no easy rides to gold.
Third meeting of the Year The meeting in Dubai was the third time on the 2011 ITTF Pro Tour that Guo Yan and Ding Ning had met and on both occasions Ding Ning had emerged successful.
She won when the pair met in the final in Sheffield at the English Open and she won in Doha when the duo confronted each other in the semi-finals; prior to that, on their previous two meetings Guo Yan had prevailed.
In November 2007 she won when the duo met in the third round of the Women’s Singles event at the Sedish Open and in January 2010 in Macao at the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals.
Determination Guo Yan had displayed an immense amount of determination in her semi-final victory over Li Xiaoxia; greeting every success with her vocal chords matching those of the music propounded by the disc jockey in charge of the music.
Was it just the desire to win yet another title or was there more; a win and no doubt the no.1 spot on the World Rankings would be regained and perhaps more pertinently one step nearer a place in the Chinese line up for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Runner up to Zhang Yining in the Women’s Singles event at the Volkswagen 48th World Championships, she was distraught at not winning.
Not Selected Not selected for the Chinese team at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games or 2008 Beijing Olympic Games; whilst sitting on the bench time and again in World Championship Team finals – only appearing in one in Moscow in 2010 and winning China’s one match – Guo Yan is player proving a point.
The point is: she is the best female table tennis player in the world.
Consistent and Incisive In the first two games in the final in Dubai, she underlined her pedigree; she secured the first two games; she was consistent and incisive.
Fast Rallies Fast close to the table rallies were the order of the day with Guo Yan adopting a central position in order to cope with the angles created from the backhand of Ding Ning wide to the forehand of the right hander.
The pace of the contest rose in the third and fourth with Ding Ning raising the tempo, she clinched the two games; matters were level.
Vital Fifth Game In the fifth game DING Ning went ahead 10-9; the rallies being played at a breathtaking speed, superb table tennis. Continuing in her determined frame of mind, GUO Yan saved the vital game point and then won the next two; the squeal of joy clear for all in neighbouring Abu Dhabi to hear.
Plenty of Space Rat-a-tat-tat; close to the table exchanges continued; they needed a playing area half the size! Neither would give ground.
Clearly stung by the fifth game reverse, the brown of Ding Ning showed an attitude of steel; in the determination stakes it parity, total commitment.
Ding Ning established an early lead in the sixth game, she never relinquished the advantage.
Deciding Seventh Game Table tennis of the highest order was on the menu with Guo Yan leading 5-4 at the change of ends.
There was nothing to choose between the two superb athletes; it was a battle of willpower with neither player more than a point ahead.
Trailing 8-9, Guo Yan called “Time Out”; the next point went to Ding Ning, two match points; the chance was seized, Ding Ning was the champion.
