Class display sees French star end day in style
Men’s Singles: Round of 32
French presence will be felt in the last 16 of the men’s singles event after qualifier Simon Gauzy struck a classy performance to beat Korea Republic no.15 seed Lee Sangsu 4-1 in round one (11-7, 16-14, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10).
Jang Woojin was another Korean competitor to suffer defeat at the hands of China’s Xu Chenhao (11-9, 11-7, 12-10, 11-5). There was German interest on table 1 and 2: Timo Boll successfully navigated a tricky tie against Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna (11-5, 11-2, 11-9, 3-11, 8-11, 11-8) but Patrick Franziska couldn’t replicate that outcome, losing out to Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa 4-2 (6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 11-1).
Benedikt Duda sends World Championships silver medallist home
Men’s Singles: Round of 32
We may be approaching the end of day one but the drama isn’t dying down with another big shock to report from the men’s singles event: trailing 0-2 Germany’s Benedikt Duda sends the home crowd wild with an incredible comeback effort, eliminating 2019 World Championships runner-up Mattias Falck across seven games (7-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10, 8-11, 11-3).
Duda’s compatriot Qiu Dang also impressed in the 8.00pm session with opportunities to take a couple of games off World and Olympic champion Ma Long, but ultimately the match belonged to the no.3 seed from China (15-13, 11-8, 13-11, 11-7).
Suh Hyowon unfortunate
Women’s Singles: Round of 32
Returning to the table but Suh Hyowon can’t find her way back into the match as Chen Meng survives a nervy contest across seven games (12-14, 11-5, 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-4).
So Chen holds on, but there has been an exit for one Chinese competitor with Chen Xingtong falling to Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto by a 4-2 margin (11-7, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4, 4-11, 11-7).
Injury time out in crucial match
Women’s Singles: Round of 32
Top seed Chen Meng is currently locked in an intense affair against Korean defender Suh Hyowon. With the scores sitting at 3-3, Chen recovered from a three point deficit in the deciding game to establish a 5-3 points lead. Suh is looking somewhat comfortable and has called for a medical time out.
It looked at one point during the match that we wouldn’t need a seventh game as Suh held two match point opportunities in game six, but a strong-willed Chen held her nerve and has kept herself in the tie.
Petrissa Solja off to winning start
Women’s Singles: Round of 32
Runner-up in 2015, Germany’s very own Petrissa Solja has come through her opening round fixture in the women’s singles event with Singapore’s Zeng Jian on the receiving end of a five-game defeat (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8).
The other match to catch the eye took place on table 3 as fifth seed Zhu Yuling edged a topsy-turvy affair against Russia’s Polina Mikhailova (11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10) to set up a meeting with Solja in the next round.
Two giant shocks!
Men’s Singles: Round of 32
Well, well, well. Who predicted this? Tomokazu Harimoto’s journey has been halted at the first hurdle in Magdeburg! The 16-year-old from Japan, seeded fifth, was bested by Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, 38, in an exciting six-game battle (9-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5).
“In past encounters, I used to lose more. This time the most important thing was I adjusted my mental attitude. I play every ball like at the beginning, 0:0. The cheering sound doesn’t bother me, I just focus on the game.” Chuang Chih-Yuan
Seventh seed and a key contender in the men’s singles title race Liang Jingkun is also out – the Chinese star held the lead by the close of game five, but couldn’t capitalise as Korea Republic’s Cho Seungmin extended his stay in the competition (11-7, 3-11, 11-9, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9).
Top seed Xu Xin survives opening round upset
Men’s Singles: Round of 32
Chinese top seed Xu Xin has just negotiated a tight battle with An Jaehyun in the 4.40pm session of play, needing the full seven-game distance to see off the qualifier from Korea Republic (11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-3).
“I was honestly nervous at the beginning, because my opponent was Xu Xin. I think I played well but the result is disappointing for me. I need to improve and analyse better to prove that my 3rd place last year, which was a miracle, was not a exception. I play very emotionally, because it brings out the best in me.” An Jaehyun
Xu’s fellow countryman Lin Gaoyuan has also made a winning start in Magdeburg with his straight games success against Slovakia’s Wang Yang (13-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10). The other fixtures in the session both favoured Japan as Jun Mizutani and Koki Niwa came through their respective encounters with Darko Jorgic and Kanak Jha.
Miu Hirano succumbs to early exit!
Women’s Singles: Round of 32
It’s an early departure for Japan’s Miu Hirano to reflect upon in Magdeburg with the no.11 seed falling at the first hurdle of the women’s singles event. Chinese qualifier Qian Tianyi was simply sublime on table 3, prevailing over Hirano by a mighty 4-0 score-line (11-2, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9).
The news was more positive for the other Japanese player involved in the 3.50pm session as Kasumi Ishikawa came out on top against one of the stars of qualification in Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin (11-7, 11-6, 11-6, 13-11).
Liu steams into the next round
Women’s Singles: Round of 32
China’s Liu Shiwen was in supreme form as she beat Germany’s Shan Xiaona in straight games (11-8, 12-10, 11-5, 11-5). Taking under 27 minutes, the 2019 World Champion and World Cup winner was exuberant in her shot-making.
Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu was unable to handle the strength of the shots from China’s He Zhuojia, who won 4-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6), making sure to give her opponent no room for hitting her on the counter.
Home spirits lifted
Men’s Doubles: Round of 16
Patrick Franziska and Dimitrij Ovtcharov were out to lift the spirit of the German fans as they beat the mixed pairing of Romanian Ovidiu Ionescu and Spaniard Alvaro Robles in straight games (11-9, 11-1, 11-3).
The Chinese contingent continued it’s powerful display of talent as legendary Ma Long with Lin Gaoyuan saw off the challenge of Hong Kong China’s Ho Kwan Kit and Lam Siu Hang, winning 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-5).
Fan/Zhou in full flow
Men’s Doubles: Round of 16
The new Chinese pairing of Fan Zhendong with Zhou Yu was too hot to handle fro Hungary’s Adam Szudi and Nandor Ecseki, as the Asians won 3-0 (11-5, 11-4, 11-4) in just about 13 minutes.
Over at table 1 however, a major upset for the home crowd went down as Timo Boll with Ricardo Walther lost out to Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu and Jeoung Youngsik in a 3-1 win (11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10) for the top seeds.
Chinese pair through in style
Women’s Doubles: Round of 16
China’s Chen Meng with Wang Manyu showcased some superb shots around the table today as they saw off Thailand’s Nanthana Komwong with Orawan Paranang in straight games (11-6, 11-2, 11-8).
Singapore’s Yu Mengyu with Lin Ye were promoted to the quarters on default as the mixed pairing of Austria’s Sofia Polcanova and Romanian Bernadette Szocs had to withdraw.
Hirano/Ishikawa halt French progress
Women’s Doubles: Round of 16
Japan’s Miu Hirano and Kasumi Ishikawa have haled the French duo of Laura Gasnier and Marie Migot, as they won in style against the in-form French pair (11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 11-3).
For the Germans Nina Mittelham With Petrissa Solja, it was the home crowd that helped them secure a 3-0 (11-6, 12-10, 11-8) win over Russians Yana Noskova and Polina Mikhailova.
Favorites progress
Mixed Doubles: Round of 16
World no. 1 pairing from China, Xu Xin with Liu Shiwen gave an impressive showing to their fans as they won 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-5) agaisnt Hungary;’s Adam Szudi with Szandra Pergel.
Similarly, for Hong Kong China’s penholder Wong Chun Ting with Doo Hoi Kem, the Romanian duo of Ovidiu Ionescu with Bernadette Szocs could not stop them from winning 3-0 (14-12, 11-4, 11-8) in under 27 minutes.
No sweat for Franziska/Solja
Mixed Doubles: Round of 16
The host nation’s Patrick Franziska and Petrissa Solja were off to a splendid start, beating Slovakian pairing of Wang Yang and Tatiana Kukulkova in straight games (11-6, 11-7, 11-4).
Chinese Taipei’s young duo of Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching also were equally impressive in their 3-1 (14-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7) win over Serbians Aleksandar Karakasevic and Izabela Lupulesku.
