by Simon Daish
Top seeded pair lives up to expectation
Following a disappointing day in Linz for top seeds, Day Four opened in complete contrast as Hina Hayata and Mima Ito raced to an emphatic victory in the Women’s Doubles final.
The no.1 seeds from Japan took on China’s Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha, the pair that claimed gold on Austrian soil in 2017, but one year later the title has ended up in the possession of Japan (11-6, 11-7, 11-8).
Hina Hayata and Mima Ito have now collected three Women’s Doubles gold medals on the ITTF World Tour in 2018 with their previous successes coming in Bremen and Geelong.
“We are very happy to finally win against our opponents. I won the singles title in 2016 in Linz and now the doubles title, I am already looking forward to coming back here next year. Dankeschön!” Mima Ito
Dream finale for qualification star
While seeding was very much observed in the first title match of the day it was the exact opposite in the Men’s Singles final as Liang Jingkun capped off a superb campaign in Linz with silverware to his name.
Defying the odds to eliminate top seed Fan Zhendong in the penultimate round and at the final hurdle Liang Jingkun caused another giant upset, inflicting a dramatic seven games defeat upon second seed Xu Xin (11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11, 11-13, 11-2).
“I am very satisfied with my performance. It is my first victory on the ITTF World Tour and a great reward for all the work. Every player in Chinese national team is capable of winning such a tournament. I am glad that I could come out as the champion. Linz will have a special place in my heart; I must thank the crowd for the great support.” Liang Jingkun
Men’s Singles success for the first time on the ITTF World Tour, an achievement which is made even more special considering that Liang Jingkun began his journey in the two-day qualification tournament prior to the main event, negotiating eight matches on his way to the title.
#Breaking??
World #80 Liang Jingkun ?? taking the #ITTFWorldTour Austrian Open Men’s Singles title with a 4-3 victory over world #2 Xu Xin ?#Congrtas pic.twitter.com/9CQamNaWjD— ITTF World (@ittfworld) November 11, 2018
Back among the trophies
Aiming to capture her first Women’s Singles title of the year, Chen Meng leaves Linz with a smile on her face following a devastating performance against the defending champion Wang Manyu.
Chen Meng’s unforgiving forehand, which proved to be the downfall for top seed Zhu Yuling in the previous round, once again took centre stage as Wang Manyu couldn’t find a way to prevent the no.5 seed from storming to a breathtaking 4-0 victory (11-8, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7).
Having now met three times in Women’s Singles gold medal contest, Chen Meng has emerged successful over Wang Manyu on each occasion.
“I did not expect to win this match that easily. I focused a lot on my tactics rather than thinking about winning this tournament here in Austria; this was crucial to perform at such a high level. Even though I am delighted about my victory, it is essential that I can learn something from my matches and improve myself.” Chen Meng
Chen Meng ?? is Women’s Singles winner at the Seamaster 2018 #ITTFWorldTour Platinum Liebherr Austrian Open??#Congrats pic.twitter.com/bBZ8pVJguw
— ITTF World (@ittfworld) November 11, 2018
Success at the fourth attempt
The final encounter of the day produced Japan’s second gold medal of the tournament as Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima picked up their first Men’s Doubles title of the year.
Claiming the opening two games of the final by the narrowest of margins the Japanese duo didn’t let a confident display from Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu in game three faze them, coming up with a fine performance in game four to lift the trophy (12-10, 11-9, 3-11, 11-4).
Defeated at the final hurdle on three occasions in 2018, finally at the fourth attempt the top step of the podium was reserved for Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima.
“Finally we managed to take home a title after being runner up for three times this year, what a relief. Now we are looking forward to the World Tour Grand Finals since we are in a great shape at the moment.” Masataka Morizono
#GoldenSelfie with Seamaster 2018 #ITTFWorldTour Platinum Liebherr Austrian Open champions ???? pic.twitter.com/pPODy6g0an
— ITTF World (@ittfworld) November 11, 2018
Now that all 12 stops on this year’s ITTF World Tour calendar have been visited, all eyes turn to the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals set to take place in Incheon, Korea Republic from Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th December.
Qualifiers for Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals – Full List
Men’s Singles
Xu Xin (China), Fan Zhendong (China), Ma Long (China), Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan), Liang Jingkun (China), Jang Woojin (Korea Republic), Lin Gaoyuan (China), Hugo Calderano (Brazil), Jun Mizutani (Japan), Patrick Franziska (Germany), Lim Jonghoon (Korea Republic), Lee Sangsu (Korea Republic), Wong Chun Ting (Hong Kong), Liu Dingshuo (China), Koki Niwa (Japan), Timo Boll (Germany)
Women’s Singles
Wang Manyu (China), Kasumi Ishikawa (Japan), Liu Shiwen (China), Mima Ito (Japan), Ding Ning (China), Zhu Yuling (China), Chen Meng (China), Suh Hyowon (Korea Republic), Cheng I-Ching (Chinese Taipei), Chen Xingtong (China), Hitomi Sato (Japan), He Zhuojia (China), Miu Hirano (Japan), Sun Yingsha (China), Feng Tianwei (Singapore), Saki Shibata (Japan)
Men’s Doubles
Jeoung Youngsik / Lee Sangsu (Korea Republic), Masataka Morizono / Yuya Oshima (Japan), Ma Long / Xu Xin (China), Ho Kwan Kit / Wong Chun Ting (Hong Kong), Jang Woojin / Lim Jonghoon (Korea Republic), Liao Cheng-Ting / Lin Yun-Ju (Chinese Taipei), Patrick Franziska / Jonathan Groth (Germany / Denmark), Mattias Falck / Kristian Karlsson (Sweden)
Women’s Doubles
Chen Xingtong / Sun Yingsha (China), Hina Hayata / Mima Ito (Japan), Jeon Jihee / Yang Haeun (Korea Republic), Chen Ke / Wang Manyu (China), Liu Gaoyang / Zhang Rui (China), Honoka Hashimoto / Hitomi Sato (Japan), Doo Hoi Kem / Lee Ho Ching (Hong Kong), Ng Wing Nam / Minnie Soo Wai Yam (Hong Kong)
Mixed Doubles
Lee Sangsu / Jeon Jihee (Korea Republic), Jang Woojin / Cha Hyo Sim (Korea Republic / DPR Korea), Chen Chien-An / Cheng I-Ching (Chinese Taipei), Lim Jonghoon / Yang Haeun (Korea Republic), Maharu Yoshimura / Kasumi Ishikawa (Japan), Masataka Morizono / Mima Ito (Japan), Wong Chun Ting / Doo Hoi Kem (Hong Kong), Lubomir Pistej / Barbora Balazova (Slovakia)