(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT)
The knockout rounds of the 2025 Pan American Cup started on Friday, and by Saturday night, USA’s Lily Zhang had fought past Giulia Takahashi and Angelica Arellano to reach the Semifinals. Lily then dominated Canada’s Mo Zhang to reach the Final. In the other half of the draw, USA’s Amy Wang logged wins over Brianna Burgos and Zhiying Zeng on her way to the Semifinal. However, in that Semifinal, Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, the tournament’s top seed, dismantled Amy Wang 4-1. This sets the stage for Sunday’s final match between Bruna Takahashi and Lily Zhang.
By ranking, Lily Zhang is a slight underdog as Takahashi is World No. 25 and Zhang is No. 42. But at least in the early going, there’s little difference in the play of these two. Tied at 5-5 in the first game, both are landing big shots but playing careful early in the points. At 8-8, Zhang wins a backhand to backhand rally, and then Zhang misses an aggressive forehand opening (9-9). A long serve winner gives Zhang the lead, then Zhang wins the game with a strong forehand at a heavy angle. Takahashi starts the second game strong and runs off four points in a row to extend her lead to 7-4. Zhang answers with 3 in a row, tough serves, and heavy topspin in the rallies. At 8-8, Zhang takes a ball off the bounce and hits a clean backhand winner down the line. The next point is an unforced service error to give Zhang the 10-8 lead. Takahashi then pounds a pair of backhands leading to the 10-10 tie. Zhang misses a backhand and winces as if it may have hurt. Takahashi then clearly had the last point won, but Zhang returns two smashes to win the point (now 11-11). The two trade big shots to 12-12. A strong return makes Zhang’s backhand float long, and then Zhang misses a forehand late in a rally to give Takahashi the 14-12 win. Game score is now tied 1-1. Between points, Zhang is now stretching her arm as she is clearly in pain – and Takahashi is keeping the pressure up. Takahashi is up early 4-2. And it is all Takahashi from that point forward, extending the lead to 9-4 and winning the game 11-5. During the break, there’s some discussion of whether Lily can continue – as she is really struggling with a muscular issue on her playing arm.
Action starts again after Lily Zhang receives some treatment. Takahashi is back to pressing, and Zhang is still struggling, 4-2 lead for Takahashi, then 7-4, and then 9-5. Zhang fights back with three long rallies in a row to cut the lead to one (9-8 with Takahashi in the lead). A long rally ties the score, and a mishit by Takahashi gives Zhang a game point. Game to Zhang – all tied 2-2. First to five in the fifth game is Lily Zhang, now leading 5-4. Takahashi turn the momentum and pulls ahead 7-5. Takahashi maintains the lead to 9-7, then 10-8. A miss by Takahashi makes it 10-9, and then a backhand Zhang winner ties the score at 10-10. Zhang with a winner late in a 10 shot rally to jump ahead 11-10, and a net by Takahashi helps her tie it 11-11. The two trade misses to 12-12. Takahashi has an unforced forehand error trying to open slow, and then overswings on a forehand that sails long. Zhang has been behind for 4 of the 5 games, but has managed to come from behind at the very end twice to lead in the match 3-2. Zhang takes the first two points of the sixth game, just to see Takahashi land two big winners to tie the score. Takahashi runs off three more, now up 5-2 after being down 0-2. Zhang has a run of 3 points, aided by a net, and the two are tied 6-6. Things are getting tense now – a louder room, and Takahashi’s coach standing to try to motivate her. Zhang is playing careful, and Takahashi is pressing the pace – but hitting half winners and half misses keeps the score tight. Zhang is up 9-8. A back edge tip gives Zhang a 10-8 advantage. Zhang misses long, and calls a timeout, up 10-9 with a match point coming. “Let’s Go Lily” cheer during the break. Takahashi to serve. A great serve across the middle followed by a smash for a winner to tie the score. Takahashi goes wide of Zhang’s forehand to take the advantage – and Zhang flat hits a loop to tie the score 11-11. A seven shot rally ends with Lily hitting an overspin backhand that Takahashi carries long, and then Zhang misses a forehand smash – now tied 12-12. A heavy top forehand by Takahashi forces a block that floats long, and then in the next point the players trade a flat hit flurry that Zhang wins to tie it 13-13. Takahashi spins a ball to the backline to gain the advantage, and then beats Zhang wide of her backhand to take the sixth game. The match is tied 3-3.
All game faces in the final game as both players are locked in. Zhang is up early 4-2, but Takahashi answers with another forehand smash that is likely harder than those we watched in the Men’s final earlier in the evening. They switch sides with Zhang up 5-3, just to see Takahashi with another pair of winners (5-5). Like the last game, Takahashi is driving the pace, with big swings from both sides – either scoring winners, or missing aggressive shots. It is serving her well as she jumps back into the lead at 7-5. A big inside out forehand to Zhang’s backhand gives Takahashi an 8-5 lead. Two misses by Zhang into the net leave the score at 10-5. And another forehand deep to Zhang’s backhand is the final point – 11-5 for Takahashi, for the 4-3 win.
All of those who reached the Semifinals have now punched their ticket for the World Cup in Macao this April. For TeamUSA, that means Kanak Jha, Lily Zhang, and Amy Wang are all invited to Macao.
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