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Nadal & Federer cruise into last eight - but Wawrinka takes five hours

Published in Tennis

Sunday, 02 June 2019 11:06

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer stayed on course for a semi-final meeting at the French Open as both coasted into the last eight with straight-set wins.

Eleven-time champion Nadal beat Argentina's Juan Ignacio Londero 6-2 6-3 6-3 in two hours 13 minutes.

Federer beat another Argentine, Leonardo Mayer, by the same scoreline.

He plays Stan Wawrinka next after his fellow Swiss prevailed in a marathon five-set wrestle with Greek sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Nadal will face either Japan's Kei Nishikori or France's Benoit Paire.

On past form, Nadal would have greater reason for optimism should he meet Federer in the last four, having won all five of their matches at Roland Garros.

Federer, whose sole Roland Garros title came in 2009, is yet to drop a set in the tournament, after straightforward wins over Lorenzo Sonego, Oscar Otte and Casper Ruud, ranked 74th, 144th and 63rd in the world respectively, and Mayer never looked likely to dent his progress.

Victory assured Federer another piece of tennis history as he matched American great Chris Evert's record of 54 Grand Slam quarter-final singles appearances in the Open era.

Wawrinka digs deep to meet old foe

In contrast to Federer's routine victory, Wawrinka's gruelling 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6 victory stretched over five hours and nine minutes as momentum swapped between him and his 20-year-old opponent.

Tsitsipas spurned eight break points in the final set, taking just five of 27 opportunities in the match, as he failed to tee up another meeting with Federer, who the Greek stunned in a dramatic Australian Open last-16 win in January.

Wawrinka saved three break points at 5-5 in the fifth set before converting the second of two match points with a floated backhand that clipped the outside of the line.

It is the longest match of this year's tournament, surpassing French pair Benoit Paire and Pierre-Hugues Herbert's second-round tussle by 36 minutes.

Wawrinka is the last man to beat Federer at the French Open, knocking out his compatriot en route to the title in 2015.

Federer has missed the tournament each year since then in an effort to preserve his body and prolong his career.

Wawrinka has had his own fitness concerns, with a knee injury threatening his career after 2017 Wimbledon. He slipped outside the top 250 after a first-round defeat at last year's French Open but has since fought his way back to his current ranking of 28th.

"It's incredible, lots of emotions Thanks to all the fans for staying and the support," said the Swiss after a victory that featured 123 winners (61 for Tsitsipas and 62 for Wawrinka).

"It's for these kind of emotions that I live for after coming back from injury."

"I have a bad memory of it," said Federer, 37, of their 2015 encounter in the French capital.

"Stan beat me in three sets with his terrible shorts! But he played really great that year."

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Thiem accuses Williams of showing 'bad personality' in media-room row

Published in Tennis

Sunday, 02 June 2019 13:07

Dominic Thiem says Serena Williams showed "a bad personality" after he was told to end a French Open news conference to make way for her.

A tournament official told the Austrian fourth seed to leave the room while he was speaking to reporters on Saturday.

"Every player has to wait. It shows a bad personality, in my opinion," Thiem told Eurosport.

Tournament director Guy Forget has apologised to Thiem, who faces Gael Monfils in the fourth round on Monday.

According to French newspaper L'Equipe, 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams was keen to fulfil her media obligations as soon as possible after her surprise third-round loss to fellow American Sofia Kenin, saying "put me in another room, smaller, but now".

Thiem complained to a tournament official at the time of the incident.

"What the hell? But it's a joke, really. What's the point of that, that I have to leave the room because she's coming?" he said.

The 25-year-old added on Sunday that he believed former world number one Williams had contravened the players' usual protocol.

"I wasn't angry or frustrated. Maybe for a couple of minutes or so. It is just the principle," he said. "It doesn't matter if it is me who sits in there, even if a junior is in there.

"I am 100% sure Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal would never do something like that."

Federer said he understood Thiem's frustration, adding that players who had won their match, as Thiem had just done against Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas, are usually given priority over those exiting the tournament.

"I don't know what went wrong but something went wrong for this to happen," the Swiss 20-time Grand Slam champion said.

"If I would have lost today against Leonardo Mayer, I would let him go first or decide when he wants to go to press as he's got a next match. My next match is far, far away. So that's just the way you go about it.

"There must have been a misunderstanding, or maybe they should have kept Serena still in the locker room, not waiting here in the press centre."

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Chen Meng maintains ascendancy

Published in Table Tennis

Sunday, 02 June 2019 06:27

Thus Chen Meng maintained her current level of ascendancy over Wang Manyu; last December she prevailed in five games when they met at the quarter-final stage at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon; in January she succeeded in straight games in Hungary in the penultimate round and more recently at the same round in Budapest at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships.

Moreover, always when they have met in an ITTF World Tour women’s singles final, Chen Meng has emerged successful; she prevailed in 2017 in both Qatar and Australia, as well as last year in Austria.

Success against an adversary, who like Chen Meng has an incredible level of consistency, but watch her play and does Wang Manyu not to some extent defy the coaching textbook?

Rewind the final of her matches, rewind the final against Chen Meng and look at the difference when they receive service. Chen Meng is totally orthodox, playing against the right hander when receiving service her feet are at an angle to the table. It is with very subtle variations how a million and one players stand to receive service against an opponent who uses the same hand; it is how they are encouraged by their mentors.

Now watch Wang Manyu receive service, she stands parallel to the table; a player who receives service with her feet at that manner will surely have more problems that most when the opponent directs attacking strokes towards the so-called indecision point, the elbow of the playing arm where the split second decision has to be made whether to play a backhand or forehand.

Yet, Wang Manyu appears able to adapt and most importantly keep her balance; the forehand might not be of the classic variety when the direction of play is changed but for Wang Manyu it works, she executes the stroke with a minimum transfer of weight from the legs and recovers.

It was an area in which Chen Meng focused her early strokes in the rally but my word she was made to work hard; Wang Manyu responded time and time again. Chen Meng prevailed but was the reason more a question of confidence than tactical or technical?

She had won the most recent three encounters surrendering just two games, she started 12-2 ahead.

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Ma Long, man with a mission, mission accomplished

Published in Table Tennis

Sunday, 02 June 2019 07:21

The mission was to prove that whatever the no.11 seeded spot might have read, he is the best player on planet earth, the mission to extend his record in China, the mission to become the all-time most successful on the ITTF World Tour.

Victory meant, he won the China title for an eighth time, well ahead of his now retired nearest rivals, Wang Liqin who prevailed on six occasions, Ma Lin who emerged victorious five times. More significantly it was his 28th ITTF World Tour men’s singles title since he won in 2007 in Kuwait.

A record, he now moves one ahead of Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus with whom he shared top position prior to the gathering in Shenzhen; Vladimir Samsonov having won his first in 1996 in Italy, the inaugural year of the ITTF World Tour, his most recent in 2017 in Australia.

The records of both stand the test of time but I would suggest that the successes of Ma Long are somewhat very special. China is the powerhouse of that sport; that fact is undeniable, always when Ma Long has competed on the ITTF World Tour, his illustrious colleagues have always been present; to be the best, he has had to beat the best.

Notably of those now 28 wins, there are only four occasions when Ma Long has not beaten a compatriot in the final and those encounters have been against most worthy opponents. He overcame Vladimir Samsonov in the title deciding contest in Singapore in 2008 and in Berlin in 2016; in 2009 in Fredrikshavn he accounted for Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov to secure gold, in 2012 in Budapest his final victim was the Korea Republic’s Joo Saehyuk.

One ahead of Vladimir Samsonov but to secure the overall record, if we add the Challenge Series tournaments, which became a separate entity in 2017, Ma Long has still one to go; in that year Vladimir Samsonov won the men’s singles title on home soil at the ITTF Challenge Belarus Open.

Also, if Ma Long is to match his female counterpart, likewise he has one more rung of the ladder to climb, between 1998 and 2009, compatriot Zhang Yining won 29 ITTF World Tour women’s singles titles.

Furthermore, to be the overall most successful Ma Long has still to make strides. Compatriot Ma Lin is clear of the field, a staggering 59 ITTF World Tour titles. During his illustrious career he won 20 men’s singles titles and with various partners claimed 39 men’s doubles gold medals; for Ma Long he has 22 such men’s doubles top prizes, the overall aggregate 50 in number.

Just a mere 10 to go; the next mission, should not take long!

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Showcase Shenzhen: Ma Long and Chen Meng champions

Published in Table Tennis

Sunday, 02 June 2019 07:53

Titles hard earned in the strongest field ever assembled for an ITTF World Tour tournament.

Men’s Singles

…………Ma Long, the no.11 seed, beat Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, the no.4 seed (14-16, 16-14, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7), before overcoming colleague, Lin Gaoyuan, the no.2 seed (12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4) to retain the title.

…………A 28th ITTF World Tour men’s singles title for Ma Long, he surpasses the record of Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus with whom he stood level before play began.

…………Another record, he won the China title for the eighth time, clear of colleague Wang Liqin who prevailed on six occasions.

Women’s Singles

…………Chen Meng, the no.2 seed, beat defending champion, colleague Wang Mangyu, the no.4 seed (11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7) to secure the title, having at the semi-final stage beaten compatriot Zhu Yuling, the no.2 seed (18-16, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9).

…………At the semi-final stage Wang Manyu had ended the progress of Mima Ito, the no.7 seed (12-10, 12-10, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6.

…………It was for Chen Meng her 11th career ITTF World Tour women’s singles title

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Record-breaker! Ma Long wins 28th career ITTF World Tour title

Published in Table Tennis

Sunday, 02 June 2019 10:37

MA LONG MAKES HISTORY

‘The Dragon’ is officially the most successful player in ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles history after the Chinese superstar surpassed Belarusian legend Vladimir SAMSONOV’s 15 year-long record to claim his 28^thcareer title in the ITTF’s premier tour format that has run since 1996.

The 30-year-old achieved the feat on a sensational Sunday evening in Shenzhen, where he romped to victory at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open, defeating LIN Gaoyuan 4-0 in the final (12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4).

That victory also sealed his eighth success at the China Open alone, extending yet another record which belongs to this remarkable athlete, who has been simply unstoppable since returning to the international stage in March following a seven-month injury layoff.

In the space of just nine weeks, MA equalled SAMSONOV’s record with gold at the Qatar Open. He then clinched his third consecutive crown at the World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest. Now he holds the outright record for ITTF World Tour titles thanks to China Open glory.

Even by his extraordinarily lofty standards, MA’s recent form has been mesmerising.

CHEN MENG: CHAMPION AND WORLD NO. 1!

Just an hour before Ma Long’s heroics, CHEN Meng (CHN) sealed the Women’s Singles title with a convincing 4-1 victory over compatriot and 2018 China Open champion WANG Manyu (11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7).

The result consolidates a number of recent successes, which have seen CHEN climb to the top of the World Rankings for the first time since April 2018.

The most in-form player in the women’s game has now won three ITTF World Tour titles (2018 Austrian, 2019 Hungarian and 2019 China) and the 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in the last six months.

This was also CHEN’s 11^thwin from 14 finals in Women’s Singles competition on the ITTF World Tour. Discounting April’s World Championships final which she led and then lost to LIU Shiwen (CHN), the 25-year-old has built up a habit of rising to the big occasions.

JAPANESE STARS FALL SHORT

Undoubtedly two of the standout performers at this week’s China Open were Japanese duo, Mima ITO and Tomokazu HARIMOTO.

ITO provided a stunning display on Saturday to defeat former world no. 1 DING Ning (CHN) 4-1, but went on to lose by the same scoreline to WANG Manyu in Sunday’s semi-final (10-12, 10-12, 11-5, 7-11, 6-11).

HARIMOTO also made it through to the final day after impressive 4-0 and 4-1 wins over Liam PITCHFORD (ENG) and WONG Chun Ting (HKG) respectively.

The 15-year-old also led MA Long in his semi-final, before the eventual champion clinched a tight second game and saw out the victory (14-16, 16-14, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7).

In the day’s two other semi-finals between all-Chinese athletes, CHEN Meng outpowered ZHU Yuling (18-16, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9), while LIN Gaoyuan overturned XU Xin’s 2-1 lead to win in six games (11-9, 6-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6).

DOUBLES DELIGHT FOR GERMAN DUO

Timo BOLL and Patrick FRANZISKA were the stars of the show on Saturday, collecting Men’s Doubles gold medals.

The German pair stunned the current World Champions, WANG Chuqin and MA Long, with an emphatic 3-0 victory over their esteemed Chinese opponents (11-8, 11-7, 11-5).

Chinese Taipei celebrated gold in the Mixed Doubles as LIN Yun-Ju and CHENG I-Ching came from behind to defeat Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem (10-12, 11-6, 11-1, 11-5).

GU Yuting and LIU Shiwen were crowned Women’s Doubles champions after the unseeded pair dominated their all-Chinese showdown with a straight-game victory over top-ranked WANG Manyu and ZHU Yuling (11-7, 12-10, 11-9).

NEXT UP: HONG KONG!

Next week brings the fourth event of the 2019 ITTF World Tour with the Hong Kong Open taking place between 4 – 9 June!

Stay up to date on all the action from the Queen Elizabeth Stadium on ITTF.com, itTV and the ITTF’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Weibo.

CHINA OPEN: QUICK LINKS

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All roads lead to Alexandria

Published in Table Tennis

Sunday, 02 June 2019 13:09

Notably the tournament carries a high weighting factor for ranking purposes; basically the higher the number, the more points on offer. It is a fact recognised by Khaled El-Salhy, the President of the African Table Tennis Federation.

“The tournament is very important for the African players to get an event with Factor 50 to raise their ranking points compared with the other available events far away in other continents with Factor 20 or maximum Factor 40. Ranking points are very important in the lead up for qualification for the Paralympics Games and World title events.

The event is a qualification for Tokyo 2020, as the winners in each singles’ class will be directly qualified for Tokyo provided to have they have minimum number of ranking points to be announced later.

This is the first African para tournament has been held for four years when we did the same event in Agadir, Morocco in 2015, which was also qualification for Rio 2016. Thus all African para players are keen to take part this year with the tournament being Factor 50 and a good chance for direct qualification to the Paralympics Games.

The Egyptian Table Tennis Federation is working hard with the local organizing committee from Alexandria to have a special event, taking into consideration that the event will be at the same time when Egypt will hosting the 2019 African Cup of Nations. There is a group that will play in Alexandria composed by Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi. It seems we will have a very interesting time in Alexandria, the bride of the Mediterranean.

We have received entries from eight African associations, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Tunisia by the closing date of entry. They will play singles events as qualification for Tokyo 2020 plus also team events for the continental championships.

Each class should have at least four players from at least two different associations. It seems we will have all classes for men starting from class 2 to 11; we may have the record opportunity to conduct a class 11 for the first time in Africa. In women we will combine some classes together due to the shortage of entries in some classes.

Organised in the Complex Hall in the Olympic Club in Alexandria, prior to the African Championships a total of 21 countries that are coming to the Egypt Para Open to get more points for their players, better chance of qualification to Tokyo 2020.” Khalid El-Salhy

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Wales' Halfpenny aims for World Cup redemption

Published in Rugby

Saturday, 01 June 2019 14:01

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny says painful memories of missing the 2015 World Cup are driving him to make the tournament in Japan later this year.

Halfpenny injured his knee in the final warm-up game against Italy in Cardiff just before the World Cup started and was ruled out of the competition.

"It's going to be hugely exciting," said Halfpenny.

"Missing out on the 2015 World Cup was tough and it means I'd love to be on the plane to Japan."

Halfpenny is included in Wales' 42-man extended training squad, after not being involved in their Six Nations Grand Slam triumph because of concussion issues.

The British and Irish Lion is currently having a break along with the rest of the squad and has been relaxing with his partner, Jess, and new baby daughter, Lily.

"There is a chance to have some time off, spend some downtime with the family," said Halfpenny.

"With the little one being born and the start of a family, it's a new chapter in our lives now."

Once the rest and relaxation is over the players face gruelling summer training camps in Switzerland and Turkey, before four home and away warm-up games against England and Ireland.

Wales open their World Cup campaign against Georgia on 23 September in Toyota City, with Australia, Fiji and Uruguay to follow.

"Hopefully I get a chance to put the red jersey on again, but there is a huge amount of work to do before that," said Halfpenny.

"It's going to be a tough couple of training camps ahead. I can't wait for it."

Halfpenny was the victim of a late tackle by Australia centre Samu Kerevi in Wales' win over Australia in November 2018, which resulted in concussion and sidelined him for more than three months, ruling him out of the 2019 Six Nations success.

The 30-year-old has returned to action and believes he has recovered mentally and physically.

"Dealing with injury is tough because you want to be out there playing with the team," said Halfpenny.

"It's difficult when you're not able to do that. I found this injury the hardest mentally out of all of them because of the nature of it. I didn't know when the end would be.

"The medical and coaching staff with both the Scarlets and Wales were amazing and I'm thankful to them.

"The thing with my injury was I didn't know when I would be back and coping with that was tough. Hopefully I can be stronger for it.

"It's all good now. There has been no reaction with the head.

"It's all fine and been good to get a few games under my belt. I feel like I'm over it now and delighted to be back out there on the field with the boys. I've missed it and I'm enjoying it immensely."

In his absence, Halfpenny has seen Liam Williams excel in the full-back jersey, with the Saracens back playing a starring role in the Grand Slam success.

Williams also joined Halfpenny in the exclusive club of Welshmen who have won the Heineken Champions Cup, when Saracens defeated Leinster in the final and scored a try in the Premiership final win against Exeter.

"I'm absolutely delighted for him," said Halfpenny.

"He's been outstanding this season. He's a good friend of mine and it's been really pleasing for me to see him doing well. I was delighted to see him win the Champions Cup because it's an outstanding achievement.

"We're great mates and it's good to have that competition as well."

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World Rugby Sevens Series: Fiji win in Paris and claim fourth series title

Published in Rugby

Sunday, 02 June 2019 10:25

Olympic champions Fiji sealed their fourth World Rugby Sevens Series title as they won the season-ending Paris Sevens tournament in style.

Victory in the last four against series runners-up USA 33-14 was enough to confirm Fiji's status as champions.

They then produced a superb display in the final to see off New Zealand, who finished third overall, 35-24.

Beaten semi-finalists USA and South Africa completed the four sides to earn direct qualification for Tokyo 2020.

"To round it off as we did is pretty special," said Fiji coach Gareth Baber.

Captain Josua Vakurunabili said he told his team to "make people back home and your family proud", adding: "I said 'if you want to be a history maker, don't let this moment pass you'."

England, who lost to Fiji, Ireland and Argentina in the pool on Saturday, beat Japan 52-7 in the Challenge Trophy quarter-finals before losing 41-28 to Canada in the final four.

Canada went on to beat Ireland 28-12 in the Challenge Trophy final, as Scotland saw off Japan 31-26 in the 13th-place play-off.

England can still secure Great Britain a place at next year's Games in Tokyo via a European qualifying tournament in July.

Meanwhile, Wales retained their place in the World Rugby Sevens Series despite struggling in the final leg in Paris.

Richie Pugh's side lost 26-21 in Pool B to Kenya, who were in the relegation battle with Wales along with Japan, and then lost their Challenge Trophy quarter-final 31-12 to Canada.

But Japan's earlier defeat to England at the same stage meant Wales remain among the elite top-14 nations.

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England enjoy double over Barbarians as men's XV follow up Red Roses' victory

Published in Rugby

Sunday, 02 June 2019 09:41

A young England men's XV produced an entertaining performance to beat the Barbarians and follow up the women's team's earlier victory at Twickenham.

England women put in a dominant display to claim victory in their first match against the invitational side.

Lark Davies crossed for a hat-trick as the Red Roses scored six tries in the 40-14 win.

An inexperienced men's XV managed by Jim Mallinder then won 51-43 with head coach Eddie Jones watching on.

Red Roses dominant in victory

England women produced a clinical first half in their inaugural game against Barbarians as they built a 28-point lead by the break.

"It was amazing," said Davies. "The Barbarians really tested us and hopefully it was a really good showcase for everybody watching.

"It was really hard defensively but we took our chances when we need to and came away with the win."

England hooker Davies opened the scoring in the first half from a driving maul and grabbed her second after smart scores from Hannah Botterman and Poppy Cleall.

Kelly Smith thought she had added to the Red Roses' lead after the interval but her superb individual effort was brought back for a forward pass.

It sparked a mini-revival from the Barbarians, who only played their first international in April 2019, with Millie Wood - capped four times by England - and New Zealand's Fiao'o Fa'amausili crossing.

But Davies then grabbed her hat-trick to pave the way for the Grand Slam winners to retake control and Smith darted over in the corner to round-off England's win.

Inexperienced England in entertaining form

Head coach Jones was in attendance to witness victory over the Barbarians for Mallinder's inexperienced XV, which included only one starter - Northampton's Teimana Harrison - to have played a full international.

None of the squad are expected to be part of Jones' plans for the World Cup in Japan at this stage, but the Australian will be pleased by the showing and the depth of talent at his disposal.

England enjoyed a strong first half in the non-cap match against a stellar Barbarians line-up, with Wasps winger Josh Bassett darting into the corner to open the scoring.

The Barbarians hit back with two quick tries from captain James Horwill and Francois Louw before full-back Simon Hammersley finished a wonderful breakaway move to re-establish England's lead.

Fly-half Marcus Smith and Harlequins team-mate Alex Dombrandt increased England's advantage to 19 points before the break - with the flanker, who only made his senior debut earlier this season, then teeing up Johnny Williams shortly after half-time.

The Barbarians staged a comeback with tries for Rhodri Williams, David Heffernan and a Mark Atkinson double.

But the impressive Smith nudged England further ahead with a penalty, before 22-year-old Dombrandt dived over for his second try to seal the victory and leave the hosts out of reach despite Taqele Naiyaravoro's late score.

"We spoke about creating memories together, we were full of excitement and to put that performance on was unbelievable," 20-year-old Smith told Sky Sports.

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