Wang Manyu, Ma Long ease into ITTF China Open semifinals

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Top seed Ding Ning of China was stunned by No. 7 seed Mima Ito of Japan with a 1-4 defeat in the quarterfinals during the ITTF China Open in Shenzhen, south China, on Saturday.

Ding started the game well by winning the first set 11-7, but the world No.1 was floppy on key points, losing consecutive four sets 12-10, 18-16, 13-11, and 11-9, all by two points.

"I felt no good on my services. My opponent gave me a lot of pressure when returning the ball." Ding said.

Mima Ito of Japan celebrates her victory against Ding Ning (not pictured) of China during the ITTF China Open women's singles quarterfinals in Shenzhen, south China, June 1, 2019. /VCG Photo

"I am very happy to win today. I made full preparation before the match," Ito said.

"I hope to have even more matches with Chinese players, in order to make more progress in the future," the 18-year-old player added.

China's Wang Manyu (L) returns a shot against her compatriot Liu Shiwen during their ITTF China Open women's singles quarterfinals in Shenzhen, south China, June 1, 2019. /VCG Photo

Also in the quarterfinals, the fourth-seed and defending champion Wang Manyu beat fifth-seed and newly crowned world champion Liu Shiwen 4-1.

Wang rallied to a 2-0 lead by winning the first two sets 11-6, 11-4. Liu got back into the game with an 11-6 win in the third set. But Wang found the rhythm again to win straight sets 11-6 and 13-11 to clinch the victory.

"She is the world champion. I just put myself in the challenger position. I needed to focus 100 percent while on the court," Wang said.

China's Zhu Yuling also eased into the semifinal after she beat Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei 4-1 in the quarterfinals.

China's Ma Long (L) celebrates victory over his compatriot Fan Zhendong during the ITTF China Open men's singles quarterfinals in Shenzhen, south China, June 1, 2019. /VCG Photo

In the men's singles, China's Ma Long beat his compatriot and top seed Fan Zhendong in five sets, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 13-11, in the quarterfinals. Fan saved four match points in the final set, but Ma Long converted the fifth to seal the win.

"It was always a tough game every time I met Fan, it was a little bit of luck for me to win several key points which decided the game," Ma said.

World No.3 Xu Xin swept German Timo Boll to set up the clash with Chinese rival Lin Gaoyuan, who upset another Chinese Liang Jingkun 4-3.

China's Liu Shiwen (R) shakes hands with her partner Gu Yuting after they won the ITTF China Open women's doubles final in Shenzhen, south China, June 1, 2019. /VCG Photo

In the all-Chinese women's doubles final, Gu Yuting and Liu Shiwen, who paired for the first time, crashed Wang Manyu and Zhu Yuling to stand on the top of the podium.

Germany's Timo Boll (L) and Patrick Franziska celebrate after they won the ITTF China Open men's doubles final in Shenzhen, south China, June 1, 2019. /VCG Photo

German pair Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska upset Ma Long and Wang Chuqin 3-0 to clinch the men's doubles title.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency