11/1/2009        2009 English Open

China’s Ma Long justified his top seeded billing in the Men’s Singles event at the English Open, by overcoming compatriot and no.3 seed Ma Lin at the final hurdle to clinch gold on Sunday 1st November 2009.

Ma Long continued the devastating form he had displayed throughout the whole tournament to beat Ma Lin a four straight games.

He won 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 against the reigning Olympic champion and in so doing captured his fourth ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles title of the year.

Earlier he had won at the Danish Open, the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open and at the Harmony China Open.

Uninhibited Style
Demonstrating his skills in his typical uninhibited style he was able to cope with the man who is the master of the difficult service and fast first attack.

Ma Lin is particularly potent executing a dynamic forehand topspin from the backhand court to all points on the table.

Playing intelligently and thinking clearly, Ma Long more than once played a controlled backhand topspin down-the-line wide to the Ma Lin forehand; it left the OIympic champion flat footed and stranded on more than one occasion.

The accuracy of the ploy was to be admired and applauded; his clever placements combined with his trademark rocket fired forehand spelt doom for Ma Lin.

Few Oportunities
Ma Lin had few opportunities to assert himself on proceedings; the best opportunity arguably coming in the opening game when the duo stood toe-to-toe at 9-all.

Ma Lin had two serves to come, he lost both, it was a portent of what was to follow.

Eleventh Meeting
The duel in Sheffield was the eleventh meeting between the two Chinese stars; it was the eighth time that Ma Long had won.

In 2007 he won on the ITTF Pro Tour in Kuwait, Japan, Germany and Sweden; in 2008 he succeeded in Korea and at the Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals, whilst earlier this year he was victorious in February at the semi-final stage in Kuwait.

Wins for Ma Lin
Meanwhile, Ma Lin’s wins all came in 2007.

He won their very first meeting in February at the Liebherr Qatar Open, then in November at the Liebherr French Open and at the end of the year at the Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals.

Eighth Title
It was the eighth Men’s Singles crown on the ITTF Pro Tour for Ma Long.

In addition to his victories 2009, he won in Kuwait and Germany in 2007 and in Korea and Singapore in 2008; whilst later in the year he was crowned Men’s Singles champion at the Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals in Macao.

Top Place
An invitation to Macao awaits for January 2010, prior to the English Open he stood in top place on the ITTF Men’s Singles Standings; with only the Polish Open remaining, that place is now totally secure.