Playing in his third consecutive Liebherr Men’s World Cup, Japan’s 22 year old Jun Mizutani beat Korea’s Oh Sang Eun to book a semi-final place for the second consecutive year in the prestigious event.
In the contest that brought the penultimate day of play, Saturday 12th November 2011, to a conclusion in the Halle Georges Carpentier, Jun Mizutani recorded a seven games win over the stylish Korean.
It was a contest that kept the Japanese star's supporters on a knife-edge as he surrendered three match points in the sixth game. However, to his credit he laid history to rest and emerged victorious in the deciding seventh game.
Victory Margin He won 5-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 11-5.
Opening Games Shared The first two games were shared with Oh Sang Eun securing the first game and the second going the way of Jun Mizutani.
Oh Sang Eun was the more powerful player; Jun Mizutani was the more active with the Japanese star often being forced away from the table.
Three in a Row for Jun Mizutani After losing the first game Jun Mizutani captured the next three; he caused Oh Sang Eun problems with his services and when he could unleash forehand top spins with heavy rotation early in the rally he could succeed.
The avowed policy of Oh Sang Eun was exactly the same as the policy exerted by Vladimir Samsonov one day earlier when the man from Belarus had beaten Jun Mizutani in the group stage of proceedings.
Fifth Game At every opportunity he directed his top spin strokes towards the backhand of the Japanese star and following that policy he recovered to clinch the fifth game.
Time Out In the sixth game Jun Mizutani made the better start, he won the first three points; Oh Sang Eun called “Time Out” and went to Joo Se Hyuk for advice; neither Korean having arrived in Paris with a coach. ry second of the action at
Alas for Korea, the break worked in favour of Japan; Jun Mizutani clinched the next two points before Oh Sang Eun enjoyed success.
Gap Created A gap had been created and away from the table, Jun Mizutani produced outstanding top spin strokes.
Oh Sang Eun recovered to trail 5-8; Jun Mizutani elected to take a “Time Out”.
Match Points Saved The next point went to Oh Sang Eun but at 10-7 it was three match points for Jun Mizutani; incredibly Oh Sang Eun saved all three points; it was parity at 10-all, then game point to Oh Sang Eun.
An incredible rally followed; it was won by Oh Sang Eun, a deciding seventh game beckoned.
Match Points Saved In the deciding seventh game, Jun Mizutani led 5-3 when the players changed ends.
He extended the lead to 8-4 and at 10-5 held five match points; this time there was no mistake.
Semi-Finals At the semi-final stage Jun Mizutani meets Wang Hao with Zhang Jike confronting Joo Se Hyuk.
ItTV Interviews Visit: itTV for interviews with Jun Mizutani and with Jonathan Bricklin and Franck Rahrinosy from Spin New York who are enjoying every second of the action at the Liebherr Men's World Cup
