Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Quadri Aruna, the no.27 seed, beat Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, the no.5 seed (11-6, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7); soon after Kou Lei, the no.28 seed, ended the hopes of Frenchman, Simon Gauzy, the no.13 seed (11-6, 6-11, 16-14, 11-9, 11-6).
Reversal of Fortunes
“Last time I played Chuang Chih-Yuan was earlier this year on the ITTF World Tour in Germany, I lost in four straight games, my goal today was to improve on that performance and fight to win one game”, said Quadri Aruna who undoubtedly excelled previous efforts.
After I won the first game I became more confident”, continued Quadri Aruna. “It is so hard playing Chuang Chih-Yuan, he is so consistent, he keeps putting the ball on the table, you must try to be positive against him and put him under pressure.”
Clever Services
Notably four year ago in London, Chuang Chih-Yuan had reached the bronze medal match, where he was beaten by Germany’s Dmitrij Ovtcharov.
“Also he clever with his services, he changes short and long; in the first game I made mistakes returning service but I think today he was below his normal level, he did not play well.”, concluded a very generous Quadri Aruna.
Repeat Performance
A reversal of fortunes for Quadri Aruna, for Kou Lei it was a repeat of previous fortunes.
“The last time I played Simon I won, it was the deciding match in the European Qualification tournament in Halmstad”, said Kou Lei. “Winning earlier today against Omar Assar after nearly being out of the tournament I did not feel under any pressure, I was able to play freely; I had most of the luck, the nets and edges.
Against Omar Assar, Kou Lei had lost the first five points of the seventh game before progressing to victory.
Seven Games Win for Timo Boll
Delight for Quadri Aruna and for Kou Lei, for Timo Boll, the no.10 seed, who accounted for Russia’s Alexander Shibaev, the no.18 seed, in a seven games duel (12-14, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6) it was a pleased response.
“Starting in the third round, starting cold is always difficult but I made quite a good start”, said Timo Boll “I won the sixth game and that gave me the momentum for the seventh; I think he was a bit down, in the seventh I received service well, I took some risks and it paid off; that was the key.”
Marcos Freitas
Success for one fast attacking left hander with a lethal forehand top spin, there wa success for one more.
Portugal’s Marcos Freitas , the no.8 seed, beat Ovidiu Ionecu, not seeded, in five games (11-9, 1-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9).
