Guo Yan and Ding Ning Reach Dubai Table Tennis Open Women’s Singles Final
China’s Guo Yan and Ding Ning booked their places in the final of the Women’s Singles event at the United Arab Emirates Open in Dubai by emerging successful at the penultimate stage on the morning of Saturday 19th February 2011.
In a full distance seven games duel, top seed Guo Yan beat third seeded compatriot Li Xiaoxia 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-9; before seventh seed, Ding Ning, overcame Japan’s eighth seeded Ai Fukuhara 11-5, 17-15, 11-7, 11-8. Including ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals, it is the twenty-second time that Guo Yan has reach an ITTF Pro Tour Final, as for Ding Ning it is her sixth.
Last Five Meetings Recent history pointed very much in favour of Li Xiaoxia; she had won the most recent five meetings in world ranking events; however, it had been some time since they met, the most recent duel being the final of the Volkswagen Open, Singapore in June 2008.
Two meetings, Two Wins Equally in the contest between Ding Ning and Ai Fukuhara, the odds were very much in favour of Ding Ning.
The pair had met on two previous occasions and in both meetings success had gone the way of China.
At the English Open in October 2009, Ding Ning had prevailed in their third round duel and the following year in May when they met at the semi-final stage of the women’s event at the Liebherr World Team Championships in Moscow.
Close and Fast Fast close to the table exchanges were the order of the day in the contest between Guo Yan and Li Xiaoxia with the latter taking the early advantage by seizing a close opening game, a game in which both players were trying to find a rhythm and in which neither player could assert their authority.
Noticeably both players avoided each other’s forehands earlier in the rallies, backhand counter topspin exchanges being the norm.
Level After two games matters were level between Guo Yan and Li Xiaoxia; with Li Xiaoxia not returning service as well as in the earlier games, Guo Yan won the fifth game.
Throughout the contest Li Xiaoxia remained quiet, often Guo Yan smiled, talked to herself, shaking her head when making an error or grimacing in pain; the pain of not taking the advantage of an opening.
Level Again Guo Yan continued the policy of rarely playing towards the Li Xiaoxia forehand, Li Xiaoxia changed the direction of play more.
In the sixth game Li Xiaoxia was the more consistent player, she levelled matters; a seventh game beckoned.
Seventh Game In the deciding seventh game Guo Yan was the more vocal player; urging herself forward, at the change of ends she led 5-3; Li Xiaoxia called “Time Out”.
Guo Yan won the next two points, most determined; every point won greeted with a cry of success. Li Xiaoxia recovered to trail 5-8; Guo Yan called “Time Out”.
Li Xiaoxia, as always, was the first to return to the table; calm, focused exercising heavy topspin from the forehand she recovered to trail 7-8; then a fantastic rally, won by Guo Yan, a two point gap.
Good Fortune Outstanding play, Li Xiaoxia levelled at 9-all; the massive fortune for Guo Yan, a feint edge that even umpire, Helmut Hartmann, initially did not realise; quickly the decision was changed, there was no argument, great credit to Li Xiaoxia.
One point away from victory, that victory was ensured at the end of a long rally.
Guan Yan was in the final.
Straight Games Success for Guo Yan and soon after it was Ding Ning who overcame Ai Fukuhara in four straight games.
Early Lead In the first two games Ding Ning raced into an early lead; in the first game she maintained the lead, in the second after advancing into a 5-1 lead she then lost six consecutive points.
Ding Ning recovered to level at 9-all, then both players held game points before the topspin play of Ding Ning eventually overcame the fast attacking play of Ai Fukuhara.
The game went in favour of Ding Ning 17-15.
Very Deliberate Throughout the match Ai Fukuhara, as in the past year has become her way, was deliberate in her demeanour, precise.
Attacking from the backhand, the side of the racket which has short pimples, she gained some success but as the match progressed it was the topspin play of Ding Ding that gained the ascendancy.
More Confident Ever more confident, more assured and consistent, Ding Ning captured the fourth game and a place in the final against Guo Yan was assured.
