0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Xinhua, May 12, 2024
Men's singles event winner China's Wang Chuqin (L) and women's singles event winner China's Chen Meng pose during the awarding ceremony of the WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Paddlers Chen Meng and Wang Chuqin claimed the women's and the men's singles titles respectively at the 2024 WTT Saudi Smash on Saturday as China wrapped up the tournament with a clean sweep of all five trophies.
In the afternoon session of the final day, the women's singles final witnessed a rematch of the classic showdown from Tokyo 2020. World No. 4 and Olympic champion Chen Meng beat top-ranked world champion Sun Yingsha 4-2.
In the opening set, Sun swiftly gained momentum, claiming an 11-6 lead. Chen, however, staged a remarkable comeback in the second set, securing a commanding 6-2 lead and eventually leveling the score at 1-1 with an 11-5 win.
The third set saw both players engaged in a neck-and-neck battle, with the score tied at 4-4 early on. Chen managed to break the deadlock with a four-point streak, claiming the set 11-8.
In the fourth set, Chen displayed unwavering dominance, racing to a 5-1 lead. Although Sun launched a comeback bid towards the end of the set, leveling the score at 9-9, Chen Meng maintained her composure to secure an 11-9 win.
Sun launched a fierce offensive in the fifth set, securing an 11-6 win to cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the sixth set, Sun struggled with errors, allowing Chen to surge to a 5-1 lead. Despite Sun's efforts to fend off four match points, Chen capitalized on a crucial opportunity with a powerful serve to clinch the 11-8 victory.
In the men's singles final, top-ranked Chinese player Wang Chuqin faced off against German Patrick Franziska. Wang secured the victory with a 4-2 scoreline, clinching his third title of the tournament.
Wang dominated the opening exchanges, winning the first three sets with scores of 11-2, 11-7, and 11-5. Despite a resilient fightback from Franziska, who claimed the next two sets with scores of 12-8 and 12-10, Wang regained control in the sixth set, securing an 11-6 victory.
May 11 coincided with Wang Chuqin's 24th birthday. After his victory, Wang Chuqin made a "3" gesture with his hand, signifying his achievement of three titles. The Saudi Arabian tournament organizers also prepared a birthday cake for Wang Chuqin, who celebrated with a cheering crowd.
The 2024 WTT Saudi Smash marked the inaugural event organized by the WTT in partnership with Saudi Arabia. According to reports, WTT plans to continue hosting Grand Slam events in Saudi Arabia in the coming years, further promoting the development of table tennis in the region and providing more opportunities for players and enthusiasts worldwide.
