Asian Championships: Zhang Yining at her Best
September 24, 2007

Zhang Yining at her Best Photo By: ITTF Asia Office

Courtesy of ITTF On Sunday, September 23, 2007 in Yangzhou, China; Zhang Yining underlined the reasons why she is the number one ranked player on the ITTF Women’s World Rankings and why she has occupied that spot since January 2003. In both the semi-final and final stages of the Women’s Singles event at the China Mobile Asian Championships she was absolute perfection.

At the penultimate stage she beat Chinese national team colleague. Guo Yan 12-10, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 before accounting for Li Xiaoxia in the final 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-3.

Repeat
All four semi-finalists were from China with Li Xiaoxia repeating the success she had enjoyed at the Liebherr World Championships in Zagreb in May when she had beaten Wang Nan. In Yangzhou at the penultimate stage of the Women’s Singles event she beat Wang Nan 2-11, 11-6, 11-3, 13-11, 11-7.

Consistent
Zhang Yining was the model of consistency throughout the day. The forehand was as devastating as ever but there were two other parts of her play that were of particular note.

Attacking from the backhand, Zhang Yining executed her backhand topspin stroke with an extra degree of topspin; that stopped her opponent playing strongly, it forced weak returns from which she could capitalize and it forced errors.

Always There
Furthermore, wherever the table tennis ball it seemed that Zhang Yining was there. Many times both Guo Yan and Li Xiaoxia attacked wide to the Zhang Yining forehand; against most mortals it would have brought instant success. Against Zhang Yining it didn’t. The ball came back!

Li Xiaoxia
Meanwhile, Li Xiaoxia played in Zhang Yining mode against Wang Nan, her topspin play immaculate but when faced with the World number one it was a different story.

In the final, Li Xiaoxia was often the more positive player, especially at the start of the match but Zhang Yining always responded and often in a positive fashion.

Fast and Furious
The rallies in the final were fast and furious with the percentage success ratio being in favor of the reigning Olympic champion.

Once again Zhang Yining stood on the top step of the medal podium; she was the 2007 China Mobile Asian Table Tennis Championships Women’s Singles winner.

Click here to read more results from the 2007 Asian Table Tennis Championships.