06/25/2011        Volkswagen 2011 China vs. World Team Challenge

Zhu Yuling, the winner of the Girls’ Singles event at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in Bratislava in December 2010, underlined the reason why she is the proud owner of that title; on the afternoon of Saturday 25th June 2011 she underlined the reasons indelibly.

In the Junior Girls’ contest in the Volkswagen 2011 China versus World Team Challenge in Shanghai’s Luwan Stadium, the 16 year old never gave Korea’s Yang Ha Eun, a player one year older, time to draw breath.

The Chinese teenager gave a scintillating display to record a three straight games victory.

Panther-Like
She won 11-8, 11-6, 11-4; any lose return from the Korean was seized upon like a panther honing in on its prey. Zhu Yuling, at full speed, was too fast for the Korean who one week earlier in Shenzhen had won the Under 21 Women’s Singles title at the Volkswagen China Open.

It was an imperious display and one was left to wonder, her performance was considerably better than against the more experienced, Tie Yana, the player against who she had suffered defeat in the Women’s Team contest one day earlier.

Last Minute
“I only knew I was playing at the very last minute”, said Zhu Yuling who had been the last minute replacement for Ding Ning.

“It was the first time I had ever played Tie Yana”, continued Zhu Yuling. “I knew about her and I have watched videos of her; of course we all know she has a very strong backhand.”
It will be interesting when they next meet!

Fast Learner
My impression is that Zhu Yuling is a fast learner; at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships, she was beaten in the final of the Girls’ Team event by Kasumi Ishikawa; in the final of the Girls’ Singles event she won in four straight games!

“In Bratislava I was really prepared; we all travelled as a team, all together”, reminisced Zhu Yuling. “Here it has been different for me; today was the first time I have played Yang Ha Eun.”

Like Zhang Jike
The first time and a first time success, just like Zhang Jike in Rotterdam, the first time he had played in a Men’s Singles event in a World Championships and he won.

Furthermore, I saw a similarity; the backhand “punched” attacking stroke, fast with minimal topspin, had proved successful for Zhang Jike when directed towards Timo Boll’s backhand in their Men’s Singles semi-final duel.

Effective
Against, Yang Ha Eun, the same stroke proved effective for Zhu Yuling; very effective indeed in a very effective performance!