Leading Names Suffer First Round Exits
2016 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open
Courtesy of ITTF

Korea suffered; they suffered agonies as their two leading players on duty in the Men’s Singles event at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open in Doha, both suffered first round defeats.

On the evening of Friday March 25th, they suffered against players who had been required to negotiate the qualification stage of proceedings.

The no.11 seed, Jung Youngsik lost to Germany’s Bendedikt Duda (6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9); soon after, Lee Sangsu, the no.15 seed, bid farewell, he was beaten by Russia’s Alexander Shibaev (11-9, 2-11, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7).

Good Focus 
“I think today that I played intelligently and I maintained my focus throughout the match; that was no doubt the most important factor overall”, said Alexander Shibaev. “I played Lee Sangsu at the recent World Championships and lost three-nil; today I received service well and I felt good in the rallies.”

A pleased Alexander Shibaev, it was a delighted Benedikt Duda who almost did not reach the first round; the previous evening in the concluding round of the qualification stage, he had been required to save one match point against Spanish veteran, He Zhiwen.

Strong Backhand 
“Playing Jung Youngsik, his backhand is unbelievably good; I had to play to his forehand”, explained Benedikt Duda. “When he played his forehand I could control the rallies, especially when he played to my backhand.”

Jung Youngsik is very different from the traditional Korean style of play, the forehand played at every opportunity being more the norm.

Returned Softly
“If I served to his forehand, he returned the ball quite softly and I was able to attack quickly, I could attack the middle”, continued Benedikt Duda. “Playing to his forehand; often he blocked the ball.”

Gradually Benedikt Duda imposed his will on proceedings.

“I feel I am in good shape; when he attacked from the forehand he is not as powerful as most players, he doesn’t play at a really high tempo.”

Success for Leading Names 
Defeat for Korea but not for the leading names in the lower half of the draw in the Men’s Singles event.

China’s Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin both emerged victorious as did Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus.

Fan Zhendong, the no.2 seed, beat Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit (11-8, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6); while Xu Xin, the no.3 seed, accounted for a most dangerous opponent in the guise of Maharu Yoshimura (11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-13, 11-1, 11-9).

Meanwhile, not to be upstaged, Jun Mizutani, the no.7 seed, defeated Turkey’s Li Ahmet (11-7, 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11), while Vladimir Samsonov, the no.8 seed, ousted Singapore’s Li Hu (11-4, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3).

Visit ITTF this weekend for results and more from the 2016 ITTF Qatar Open.

• Singles Main Draw
  • Men’s Singles
  • Women’s Singles
• Doubles Main Draw
  • Men’s Doubles
  • Women’s Doubles
• U-21 Finals Begin Tomorrow, March 25th
  • U-21 Men’s Singles
  • U-21 Women’s Singles