Gaoyuan shocks Ma Long at WTT Finals

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January 4, 2024
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4-January-2024

Gaoyuan shocks Ma Long at WTT Finals

Doha: Lin Gaoyuan stunned the fans at Lusail Sports Arena on Thursday evening as the underdog knocked out veteran Ma Long in the quarter-finals of the Men’s Singles at WTT Finals Men Doha, winning 3-2 (11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5).

Ma came into the match as the heavy favourite. The 3rd seed had won all of his previous encounters against Lin, with the head-to-head standing at 7:0. But the World No.7 had been converting each loss in to experience and tonight he cashed in on that bank of knowledge.

“I took a learner’s attitude. Having faced Ma Long many times, each encounter brought me new experiences. Seeing him standing at the other side of the table itself is a pleasure. Watching his adjustments during a match, how he controls crucial points, each time I can learn something new,” said Gaoyuan.

It was a tense match straight out the gate, with the duo exchanging games on the scoreboard with relative ease. The following two games however were anything but straightforward, with neither athlete giving away an inch of the table.

Both Lin and Ma held their ground in fast-paced exchanges. The loop-to-loop rallies of old cast out the window in favour of close to the table counter exchanges on each corner.

Ma Long went deep in to his well of knowledge to find a way through Lin.

In unrelenting fashion, the players sent the match to a decider. As the fifth game progressed, fortune favoured Lin. The underdog got the better of his opponent in the early exchanges and built himself up a lead.

Lin Gaoyuan will now face Fan Zhendong in tomorrow’s semifinal.

Meanwhile, Dang Qiu is also flipping the script in Qatar, sending Liang Jingkun to an early exit.The pengrip wielding German knocked out the 4th seed to move in to the Men’s Singles semifinal, taking down the match 3-2 (2-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6).

The surprise win continues a newly found rich vein of form for the World No.13.

Before Doha, Qiu had not made it past a Top 10 athlete all season. Now at the WTT Finals, he has posted back-to-back wins, with his victory over World No.4 Liang adding to yesterday’s win against World No.9 Lin Shidong. Qiu will meet the defending champion and world No.2 Wang Chuqin. who defeated Tomokazu Harimoto 3:0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-8).