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Stay tuned to watch the 2010 Qatar Open live on the ITTF TV channel.

Video On Demand available from Wednesday 17th February 2010.

Live Streaming starts at 12.30 GMT on Saturday 20th February 2010 with the Women's Singles quarter-finals.

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For Belgian’s 40 year old Jean-Michel SAIVE, the 1994 European Men’s Singles champion, he faces a new experience at the Qatar Open which starts in Doha on Wednesday 17th February 2010. The presence of Jean-Michel Saive is required from the very start; for the first time in his illustrious career, he has to compete in the qualification stage of a Men’s Singles event on the ITTF Pro Tour.
Currently standing at no.55 on the ITTF Men’s World Rankings, SAIVE is required to compete in the qualification stage of proceedings.

The Belgian star, who was present in 1996 at the English Open, the first ever ITTF Pro Tour Tournament, is not amongst the top 32 players who receive a direct entry to the main draw. It is the first time in his career that he has been required to compete in the qualification stage of a Men’s Singles event on the ITTF Pro Tour. He is the second highest world ranked player in action in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event, the highest being Sweden’s Pär Gerell, and he faces tough opposition. Furthermore, he faces one player who is in top form and one who is at opposite end of the experience spectrum, India’s 24 year old Amalraj Anthony. They will meet in the first day of action and he is a man in form. At the recent South Asia Games he was the runner up in the Men’s Singles event after collecting gold in the Men’s Team, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles competitions.

A tough first day opponent and on the second day of action, Jean-Michel Saive is scheduled to play Germany’s 17 year old Patrick Franziska. The German teenager was the Boys’ Singles winner in 2009 on the ITTF Junior Circuit in both Tunis and Poland, whilst arguably being Europe’s best player at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in Colombia in December 2009.

However, Saive is not the senior statesman on duty; that privilege belongs to Croatia’s Zoran PRIMORAC. The Croatian is just over six months older than SAIVE and is the no.16 seed.

Both PRIMORAC and SAIVE are past winners of the Men’s Singles event at the Qatar Open.

PRIMORAC won in 1998, 1999 and 2001; SAIVE win in 2002.

For the game schedule please refer the following link :
http://www.ittf.com/Protour_new/pdf/201 ... uleQAT.pdf

(Note : Source from ITTF News)

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Lets discuss last year Qatar Open.

In a thrilling Men’s Singles final on Sunday 21st February 2009 at the Qatar Open in the splendid surroundings of the Doha Sports Club, Timo Boll (Germany) beat Ma Lin (China) by the very narrowest of seven game margins.

It was a superb contest to end proceedings and it was a contest that will live long in the memory; no doubt it will live long in the memory of Timo Boll, despite all his achievements it was the first time he had ever reached a Men’s Singles final at the Qatar Open. One year later Ma Lin will be in action but Timo Boll will not be present at this year’s Qatar Open due to a pulled thigh muscle in his previous DTTL game).

Samsonov and Maze (recovering from foot injury after knocking into a tt table) also will not be featuring in this year Qatar Open.

In my opinion, European players plays too many competitions during the season, for example, the ECL,supercup,euro/asia,tournament of champions,bundesliga,top 12 etc and it's difficult for them to be ready for the important Pro Tour tournaments.

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Ma Lin and Wang Liqin won the Men’s Doubles title at the Qatar Open in Doha on Sunday 21st February 2010 beating compatriots Wang Liqin and Xu Xin in an all Chinese final to clinch gold.
In a very close contest, where both pairs were well aware of the strengths of their adversaries; the points tended to be short and brief with skill near the net paramount. Arguably experience counted with Ma Lin and Wang Hao having combinbed successfully on previous occasions on the ITTF Pro Tour, whilst for Wang Liqin and Xu Xin it was their first outing as a pair.

Ma Lin and Wang Hao 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 12-10.

Wang Liqin gained great success with Yan Sen, like Xu Xin a left handed penholder but with Xu Xin being the more refined up-to-date model.

Nevertheless, the styles of the two players complement each other. The combination of the penholder to create the openings and the powerful three times Men’s Singles World champion to finish matters is a daunting combination. In 2001 they won the Men’s Doubles crown at the Japan Open then in 2003 they succeeded in Denmark and Sweden, in 2006 once again in Japan, in 2007 in Croatia, in 2007 in China and France and in 2008 in Kuwait. Once again in 2010 they were victorious; the champions in Qatar

On the Women's Doubles, China’s Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen captured the Women’s Doubles crown at the Qatar Open to add to their growing collection of titles.

At the final hurdle they beat the Korean partnership of Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young in a contest where they gained in confidence as proceedings evolved.

Playing with control and seizing the opportunity they secured a four straight games victory.

They won 11-8, 11-8, 11-2, 13-11.



(Note: Source from ITTF News)

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One of my favourite Women players, Guo Yue (China) won the Women’s Singles title at the Qatar Open in Doha on Sunday 21st February 2010, beating compatriot Liu Shiwen at the final hurdle.
In a final played at a fast and furious pace, the no.2 seed beat the no.1 seed to clinch the top prize.
The contest was women’s table tennis at its very best with Guo Yue recovering from a three games to two deficit to secure the Qatar Open Women’s Singles crown for the first time in her career.

Guo Yue won 15-13, 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7 to capture the title for the first time in her career.

The first game was close with Liu Shiwen leading 10-8, Guo Yue saved both game points; then she had further opportunities at 11-10 and 13-12, but Guo Yue prevail and had a chance at 12-11 before eventually securing the game at 15-13.

Stung by the missed opportunities, Liu Shiwen sped into a 6-2 lead in the second game; she commanded proceedings, won the game and levelled matters. Liu Shiwen concentrates her first forehand attacks along the parallel towards the forehand of Guo Yue; the forehand may be Guo Yue’s strength but the tactic prevented the left hander gaining angles wide to the Liu Shiwen forehand.
Good tactic, indeed for Lie Shiwen.

Aggressive, positive, staying close to the table, Guo Yue attacked quickly from the very start of the fourth game but she made errors and Liu Shiwen responded, the rallies were fast and furious.
At 7-all it was parity, the next point went to Liu Shiwen, the next to Guo Yue; Liu Shiwen called “Time Out”.
Guo Yue levelled, it was 9-all; fast rallies ensued, both going the way of Liu Shiwen. The match score was level.

The fifth game saw Guo Yue attack quickly with the forehand at every opportunity. She established a 7-4 lead but Liu Shiwen captured the next three points to level at 7-all. The next two points went to Guo Yue, the next three to Liu Shiwen then one to Guo Yue; equality at 10-all. Game point to Guo Yue, point saved, then game point to Liu Shiwen and fortune was on her side.
Attempting to touch the ball short, the delicate forehand clipped the top of the net, Guo Yue returned into the net. Liu Shiwen was three-two in games ahead.

The rest was a really comeback for Guo Yue.

(Note : Source from ITTF News)

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Wang Liqin (China), the most successful male player in the history of the ITTF Pro Tour (he last won at the Volkswagen Open Japan in September 2006), recorded a five games victory over compatriot Zhang Jike to win the Men’s Singles title at the Qatar Open.

He won 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9.

Wang Liqin used his counter topspin ability in full flow to a better start; he captured the opening game as he forced errors from his younger opponent. He won the first game being comfortable playing from half distance.

On the other hand when Zhang Jike could stay close the table and give Wang Liqin little time, he was successful. In the second game, neither player was able to exert their authority on proceedings.
At 7-all the scores were level but then the next two points went to Wang Liqin.
Zhang Jike won the next point but at 10-8 it was game point to Wang Liqin; the three times Men’s Singles champion was honing in on a two games to nil advantage but Zhang Jike had other ideas.
He won four points in a row to secure the game and level the match score.

Motivated by the success, Zhang Jike went ahead 4-1 in the third game, Wang Liqin levelled at 5-all but then Zhang Jike re-established his lead, matching Wang Liqin in the counter topspin department.
It was vintage Wang Liqin as he accelerated to the title.

It was the third time that WANG Liqin, seeded no.4, had won the Men’s Singles crown at the Qatar Open, previously he had won in 2005 and 2006. Furthermore it ended a barren spell on the ITTF Pro Tour. The victory in Qatar was his first Men’s Singles crown on the ITTF Pro Tour since winning in Japan in 2006. At the penultimate stage he beat Ma Long, the no.1 seed, before overcoming a second national team compatriot, ZHANG Jike, seeded no.7, in the final.

Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
WANG Liqin (CHN) bt MA Long (CHN) 11-5, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9
ZHANG Jike (CHN) bt LEE Jung Woo (KOR) 11-5, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8

Final
WANG Liqin (CHN) bt Zhang Jike (CHN) 11-5, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9

Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
LIU Shiwen (CHN) bt Daniela DODEAN (ROU) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
GUO Yue (CHN) bt GUO Yan (CHN) 2-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-3

Final
GUO Yue (CHN) bt LIU Shiwen (CHN) 15-13, 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9

Men’s Doubles
Final
MA Lin / WANG Hao (CHN) bt WANG Liqin / XU Xin (CHN) 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 12-10

Women’s Doubles
Final
DING Ning / LIU Shiwen (CHN) bt KIM Kyung Ah / PARK Mi Young (KOR) 11-8, 11-8, 11-2, 13-11

(Note : Source from ITTF News)