(by Steve Hopkins)
World No. 1 Fan Zhendong rallied to beat Truls Moregard 4-2 to reach the Semifinals on Friday. Fan was up after the first game, but Moregard won two in a row to take the lead. The fourth game was pivotal, as Moregard couldn’t convert on two match points on his way to losing 14-12. Fan went on to win the next two as well – securing the 4-2 win.
World No. 3, Wang Chuqin, had an easier time with Lin Gaoyuan. Chuqin won the first three games, and then traded games to close out the match 4-1. Chuqin advanced to the semifinal to face Fan Zhendong – but was overmatched. Fan won the first three games, dropped the fourth, and sealed the win with an 11-5 fifth game.
World No. 3 Ma Long advanced to the Semifinal without dropping a game. His 3-0, 3-0, 3-0 run was followed up with a 4-0 win over Dang Qiu on Friday. Honestly, Qiu was never in the match – losing at 2, 4, 4, and 5.
When Quadri Aruna upset Harimoto, it made Calderano’s run to the Semifinals easier. Aruna may have used all of his energy in his upset win on Thursday, because he didn’t put up much of a fight in his 0-4 loss to Calderano in the Quarters. World No. 5 Calderano advanced to face Ma Long – but like several other matches in these rounds, it was lopsided. Ma Long won three games at 6, 6, and 4. Calderano managed to win the fourth game 11-8 – but Ma Long won the fifth game to advance.
Tomorrow, Ma Long will face Fan Zhendong in the Final. A year ago in this same event, Fan defeated Ma Long 4-3 in the Final. In 2020 the two faced each other in Finals twice, and split – With Fan winning the World Cup, and Ma Long winning the ITTF Finals. Who will win tomorrow?
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