In a thrilling display at the WTT United States Smash, reigning world champion Wang Chuqin representing the Chinese mainland powered past Kao Cheng-jui of Chinese Taipei with a decisive 3-1 win to advance to the round of 16. Starting strong with an 11-2 win, Wang regrouped after a close second game (11-9) to win the next two games 11-6 and 11-3. 🎉
Reflecting on his performance, Wang said, "We met many times before, so I was fully prepared for this match, especially considering the uncertainties brought by the venue and table. When leading in the second game, I was a bit conservative, but after negotiations with my coach, I felt that I needed to stick to my own style of play."
The tournament also witnessed a surprise run by French qualifier Lilian Bardet, who upset China's Liang Jingkun in the previous round and continued his momentum by defeating Germany's Ricardo Walther 3-1. Bardet shared his excitement, adding, "I'm very happy and very proud of myself for this run. It's not over yet and I hope to go as far as possible." 🙌
Meanwhile, the action on the women’s side was just as intense. Chinese women’s world No. 1 Sun Yingsha battled it out in a full-game contest against Hana Goda of Egypt, while sixth seed Felix Lebrun and German seeds Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang also advanced, keeping the competitive spirit alive.
As the WTT United States Smash heats up, both emerging talents and established stars are re-energizing the world of table tennis. This dynamic tournament is a must-watch for fans craving fast-paced, electrifying sports action!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
