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Women
The highest world ranked players competing in the qualification stage of the Women’s Singles event at the English Open in Sheffield, all finished in first place in their respective groups when the initial stage of proceedings came to a close on Thursday 28th October 2009.

Poland’s Zhu Fang, Hong Kong’s Zhang Rui, China’s Wen Jia and Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa, the top four rated players all enjoyed success. Equally for the ensuing quartet there were no alarm bells ringing doom. Li Xue of France, Poland’s Xue Jie, the Czech Republic’s Renata Strbikova and Iveta Vacenovska all enjoyed success.

Men
Four times Latin American champion, Liu Song (Argentina), booked his place in the main draw of the Men’s Singles event at the English Open in Sheffield by emerging in first place in his group stage encounters by the very narrowest of margins on Thursday 29th October 2009. He lost to Liam Pitchford (England) on the first day in seven games. Liam Pitchford had earlier lost to Daniel Kriston(Hungary), also in seven games; on the second day of action Liu Song concluded the qualification proceedings by beating Daniel Kriston in seven games. Therefore, points ratio was the determining factor with Liu Song finishing in first place ahead of Daniel Kriston and Liam Pitchford.

As for the other players, it was normal affairs where the top four Men Single players – Damien Eloi (France), Pär Gerell (Sweden), Sharath Kamal Achanta (India), Andrej Gacina (Croatia) – all finished their respective groups in top place.

Matches in the main draw commence on Friday 30th October 2009.

(Note : Excerpts from ITTF News)

[varghese]

I think I have seen Liu Song at the US Open 2008. He has short pips on his backhand. He was brought to his knees by Rosskopf. He is one of those surviving with short pips in defense.

I have the video of him practicing at the US Open. I will try to post the video later on TableTennisVideos.net.

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Women
China’s Liu Shiwen and Guo Yan , the top 2 seeded player, booked their places in the final following semi-final successes on the morning of Sunday 1st November 2009.
Both succeeded in six games.

Gao Jun (China), the winner of the Women’s Singles title at the 2008 Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals in Macao, secured the top prize in the Women’s Singles event at the English Open in Sheffield on Sunday 1st November 2009. She was seeded no.2, and overcame compatriot and top seed, Liu Shiwen at the final hurdle in five games (11-9, 11-13, 11-7, 16-14, 11-6) to secure the title.

In the Women’s Doubles Final event, there were no European players on show on Sunday 1st November 2009 but the defensive skills of Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young won the crowd over. In a hard fought seven games encounter they prevailed against Guo Yan & Chang Chenchen (both from China). They won 8-11, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6.


Men
Seiya Kishikawa (Japan), the 22 year old and no. 59 on the ITTF Men’s World Rankings player, ousted Chen Qi,(China) who was ranked no.9, in the third round, before recording a sensational semi-final victory over three times European Men’s Singles champion, Germany’s Timo Boll, currently occupying the no.4 position on the global list.

Furthermore, partnering compatriot, Jun Mizutani, the pair overcame China’s Ma Lin and Xu Xin at the semi-final stage of the Men’s Doubles event and will meet Ma Long and Wang Liqin also of China, in the final. They ended the hopes of Emmanuel Lebesson and Adrien Mattenet in their semi-final duel.

In the semi-final stage, a scintillating display from Ma Long and a supremely efficient performance from Ma Lin ensured that proceedings would conclude later in the day with an all Chinese final. Ma Long beat compatriot, Xu Xin in five games (11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3) whilst Ma Lin showed his class against Japan’s Seiya Kishikawa in straight games (11-6, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6)
In the Final, Ma Long justified his top seeded billing in the Men’s Singles event at the English Open, by overcoming compatriot and no.3 seed Ma Long in straight games (11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 ). Ma Long continued the devastating form he had displayed throughout the whole tournament to beat Ma Lin, the reigning Olympic champion and in so doing captured his fourth ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles title of the year. Earlier he had won at the Danish Open, the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open and at the Harmony China Open.
In the Men’s Doubles Final event, Wang Liqin (China) combined with Ma Long, recovered from a two games to nil deficit to post a seven gives Men's Doubles victory over the Japanese partnership of Seiya Kishikawa and Jun Mizutani with a score 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6.

Detail Results :
Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Ma Long (CHN) bt Xu Xin (CHN) 11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3
Ma Lin (CHN) bt Seiya Kishikawa (JPN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6
Final
Ma Long (CHN) bt Ma Lin (CHN) 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8

Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Liu Shiwen (CHN) bt Feng Tianwei (SIN) 11-9, 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6, 11-2
Guo Yan (CHN) bt Kim Kyung Ah (KOR) 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-2
Final
Guo Yan (CHN) bt Liu Shiwen (CHN) 11-9, 11-13, 11-7, 16-14, 11-6

Men’s Doubles
Final
Ma Long / Wang Liqin (CHN) bt Seiya Kishikawa / Jun Mizutani 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6

Women’s Doubles
Final
Kim Kyung Ah / Park Mi Young (KOR) by Chang Chenchen / Guo Yan (CHN) 8-11, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6

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An Overview Of The English Open

In my opinion, there are a few surprises at the recently concluded English Open ,like the early defeat of Wang Liqin and Chen Qi. Here is a list of what my thoughts are on some of the players :
1) M Maze - He completely lost his focus and concentration ever since winning the European Championship.

2) Ma Lin - Ma Lin was certainly looking very tired. After he has become Olympic Champion (he is almost 30 years old), I think he is going downhill ever since the speed glue ban. He must be rather dissapointed that he did not win the Singles title in the English Open even though he reached the final. From the many matches that I saw of him, I think his his weak point lies in the BH side.

3) Xu Xin - He has improved a lot in terms of speed, footwork and his RPB which is more consistent than it was before. He needs to mature in his game more before he can be ranked among the best of the Chinese players.

4) Ma Long - Ma Long can beat any of the Chinese players, almost at will it sometimes seems, but he doesn't yet feel very much at ease when playing the top Euros or Wang Hao. He doesn't seem to like the European style or tempo. His strength is firing to his opponents with fast attacks. He has also improved in terms tactical play as well and dares to take risks too. In another 2 years time, Ma Long will be very comfortable as the China #1 (or maybe fighting with Wang Hao for the #1 position), Xu Xin will join Zhang Jike, Hao Shuai and Chen Qi in the top China ten tt players(maybe Ma Lin would have retires by then) .

Alright I am going to stop my rant here cause I can go on and on. I would like to know how you guys think about the players in the recently concluded English Open.