The Surprise Winner in June, Wen Jia Repeats Shenzhen Form in Suzhou
Winner of the Women’s Singles event at the Volkswagen China Open during the first week of June in Shenzhen, her first ever on the ITTF Pro Tour, China’s 22 year old Wen Jia underlined one clear fact on Friday 26th August 2011 in Suzhou.
More such titles are set to follow.
In the second round of the Women’s Singles event at the Harmony China Open, she caused one of several upsets by beating Germany’s Wu Jiaduo, the no.11 seed. Wen Jia, seeded no.25, won in a most impressive manner, succeeding in four straight games. She won 11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.
Two Further Upsets It was one of three surprises in the top half of the draw as matters unfolded in the second round of the Women’s Singles event in Suzhou.
The other two upsets were provided by Singapore’s Sun Beibei and by Poland’s stylish defensive queen, Li Qian.
Creditable Wins Seeded no.24, Sun Beibei overcame Li Jiao of the Netherlands, the no.14 seed, in four straight games (11-3, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9) before Li Qian, the no.27 seed, ended the hopes of Spain’s Shen Yanfei in five games (11-7, 11-5, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4).
Both are creditable wins, Li Jiao and Shen Yanfei are left handers; the former is particularly adept at the art of service and strong first attack, whilst the Spaniard, a shakehands grip player who uses short pimples on the forehand, is notably adept against backspin play.
Chinese Stars Progress Three upsets but in the remaining matches in the top half of the Women’s Singles second round draw, matters went as per seedings.
China’s top seeded Li Xiaoxia beat Viktoria Pavlovich of Belarus (11-5, 11-6, 11-6, 11-1); whilst third seeded colleague Guo Yan, ended the hopes of Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yi-Hwa (11-6, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6).
Demanding Both Chinese stars were in commanding form, no games were surrendered.
However, for the Japanese duo of Ai Fukuhara and Kasumi Ishikawa, the respective sixth and seventh seeds, life was more demanding.
Defensive Style Ai Fukuhara, who in the past has experienced problems against defensive players, was extended to six games by the backspin art of Germany’s Irene Ivancan (5-11, 14-12, 14-12, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9).
Momentous Sixth Game Meanwhile, Kasumi Ishikawa needed the full seven games to overcome Korea’s Seok Ha Jung, like Ai Fukuhara, the Korean is comfortable against attacking play but not in opposition to defenders.
The Kasumi Ishikawa attacking style clearly suited Seok Ha Jung; in a contest littered with high quality exchanges, Kasumi Ishikawa recovered from a three games to one deficit and saved match points in a momentous sixth game to win 11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 4-11, 11-7, 19-17, 11-8).
Experience Counted Success for Kasumi Ishikawa in a dramatic contest but in the one remaining duel in the initial stages of Women’s Singles second round matches, the result was rather more convincing.
Singapore’s Li Jiawei, now one of the most experienced players on the ITTF Pro Tour used that experience to good effect.
Straight Games Success She beat Hong Kong’s 19 year old Ng Win Name in four straight games.
