by Ian Marshall, Editor

A total contrast in styles, Guo Yan the conventional shake-hands grip player uses smooth reversed rubber on both sides of the racket; conversely Sun Chen a pen-holder employs short pimpled rubber on the forehand and the smooth on the backhand.

The combination somewhat defies a commonly held belief that a female player cannot adopt such a style. The thought is that the women’s wrist is not as strong as that of the man and thus such a style cannot be promoted effectively.

Most certainly in the opening game, Sun Chen proved her point, she won the first game but with Guo Yan ever more secure from the backhand, she clinched the second and third games.

Immediately Sun Chen responded, she won the fourth game; matters were level.

Gaining parity was a major boost for Sun Chen, in the fifth game she won the first six points; Guo Yan reduced the deficit to three points at 8-5 and then to one point at 9-8; Sun Chen called “Time Out”. Guo Yan levelled but she never held the lead; the next two points went to Sun Chen, she held a one game advantage.

Positively, especially from the backhand, Guo Yan recovered to secure the sixth game; a decisive seventh game beckoned.

At the change of ends in the decider, Sun Chen led 5-2; Guo Yan called “Time Out”, the break worked for Guo Yan, she won the next five points and maintained the lead at 9-7; fearless Sun Chen won the next two points, before at 10-9, Guo Yan held match point.

The first was saved but at 11-10 not the second; the title belonged to Guo Yan.

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