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World No. 1 Lin Shidong (China) celebrated his birthday in style, steaming past Truls Moregardh (Sweden) in four straight games.
Shidong played his best match of the tournament yet, getting past a tricky opponent in convincing fashion. He proved why he is considered to have the best backhand in the world, consistently using it to dominate Moregardh. Shidong also looked to be at his physical best, flying around the table and getting to each ball despite Moregardh’s best attempts to push him away from the table.
Moregardh had a small window to come back into the match, having a few game point opportunities in a marathon third game. However, the Paris Olympics silver medalist could not take his chances, eventually falling to a superior opponent.
The final score line read – 4-0 (11-7, 11-9, 20-18, 11-6).
Shidong will now face senior compatriot Liang Jingkun in the semifinals, with both chasing a first World Cup win.
The evening session begins on expected lines, as defending champion Sun Yingsha (China) beat Cheng I-Ching (Chinese Taipei).
Yingsha won a comfortable victory in five games, looking to be at her attacking best. Cheng, despite a win in the third game, never looked to be in the contest, with the level of difference in both players becoming evident as the match progressed.
The final score line read – 4-1 (11-6, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9).
She will now face compatriot Chen Xingtong in the semifinals.
World No. 4 Chen Xingtong of China beat Brazilian Bruna Takahashi 4-1 (11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-7) in the final match of the morning session.
Takahashi’s backhand, both consistent and powerful, had Xingtong scratching her head for answers. A pivotal moment came at 10-9 in the third game, where Takahashi failed to convert a game point, foregoing an opportunity to take a 2-1 lead.
After surviving that critical game, Xingtong gained momentum, playing with greater confidence and asserting control over the match. She comfortably secured the fourth and fifth games, ultimately closing out the contest with minimal opposition.
Xingtong will now face the winner of Sun Yingsha (China) and Cheng I-Ching (Chinese Taipei) in the semifinals.
Day 5 witnesses another epic, as Wang Chuqin (China) survives a massive scare against Benedikt Duda (Germany) to go through to the semifinals.
In a clash of left-handed players, Duda showcased remarkable form, challenging Chuqin with consistent high-level play. Despite a swift defeat in the opening game, Duda adjusted effectively to mount a strong comeback, making the match increasingly competitive.
Duda’s serves played a pivotal role in his strategy, effectively setting up powerful and low attacking shots from both wings of the table. His precision and control allowed him to apply consistent pressure, with a clear focus on exploiting Chuqin’s wide forehand side. He matched the World No. 2 shot for shot, in a performance reminiscent of fellow German Timo Boll’s matches against top Chinese players.
Duda will regret not converting the fifth game, losing 8 points in a row from a 7-3 lead. He also failed to convert a match point opportunity at 10-9, missing a receive. However, he can walk away with his head held high, in what has been his best ever showing at a World Cup.
With Wang Hao’s spirited coaching fueling him, Chuqin stayed composed under intense pressure. A stroke of luck in the fifth game, including net balls and a critical service error from Duda, gave Chuqin the opportunity to come back from 3-7 down to to take the fifth game. The drama culminated in the decider, where Chuqin’s brilliance shone with two crucial points at 10-10, sealing the victory amid electrifying celebrations in the stands.
Chuqin will now face the winner of Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan) and Hugo Calderano (Brazil) in the semifinals.
Mima Ito beat Satsuki Odo 4-2 (11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7) in an All Japanese matchup.
Trailing 7-10 in the pivotal fifth game, Ito staged a remarkable comeback by stringing together five consecutive points to seize a 3-2 lead in a closely contested match. This turnaround seemed to tilt the balance firmly in Ito’s favor, as Odo struggled to bounce back from the disappointment. Under mounting pressure, Odo faltered in the sixth game, allowing Ito to close out the match and secure a well-earned victory.
Ito’s exceptional speed was on full display as she consistently took the ball early, leaving Odo with minimal time to recover between strokes. By maintaining relentless pressure, Ito disrupted Odo’s rhythm and effectively limited her ability to execute her shots.
Ito will take a lot of confidence from this win, having lost to Odo in their previous 2 meetings. Having been dropped from the Japanese team for the Paris Olympics, she has made a strong statement by beating the World No. 8, and will now face the winner of Kuai Man (China) vs Wang Manyu (China).
Day 5 gets off to a high quality start, with Chinese stalwart Liang Jingkun getting the better of Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic in six thrilling games.
In their evenly matched fifth encounter, where both players had previously secured two wins each, Jingkun came out with a solid plan to take an early 2-0 lead. Displaying excellent tactical discipline, he consistently denied Jorgic the pace needed to execute his powerful backhand. By skillfully varying the depth and placement of his shots, Jingkun disrupted Jorgic’s rhythm and minimized his chances of using his trademark weapon effectively. This strategic approach set the tone for a commanding start to the match.
Jorgic adapted his strategy in the third game, moving closer to the table and focusing on pushing Jingkun wide to his forehand in an effort to unsettle his positioning. This adjustment paid dividends as Jorgic clawed his way back into contention, highlighted by a nail-biting 19-17 victory in the fifth game that appeared to shift the momentum in his favor. However, Jingkun displayed remarkable resilience, regaining control in the sixth game to secure the decisive victory and advance further in the tournament.
The match was a turbulent affair, with both Jingkun and Jorgic frequently encountering net and edge balls, leading to moments of frustration for both players. But Jingkun demonstrated superior composure, and booked a well-deserved place in the semifinals.
Jingkun will face the winner of Lin Shidong (China) vs Truls Moregardh (Sweden).
