Tie Yana Crowned Brazilian Open Champion
April 16, 2007

Courtesy of ITTF It was the ninth time that Hong Kong’s Tie Yana, the number two seed, and Japan’s Ai Fukuhara, the number four seed, had met in international competition. History favored Tie Yana, she had won six of the nine contests and more importantly she had won on their last three meetings, the most recent being in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Singles event in Doha when at the quarter-final stage she had prevailed in seven games.

In Belo Horizonte Tie Yana won again, she succeeded 11-4, 4-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8.

Opening Game
The opening game saw Ai Fukuhara attack quickly as she had done in the semi-finals against Sun Bei Bei; however, against Tie Yana she made errors, she was a little over eager and Tie Yana withstood the barrage, her control the telling factor.

Tie Yana won the first game 11-4.

More Consistent
In the second game, Ai Fukuhara started in a more consistent manner and established a 4-1 lead. She made full use of the table and forced weak returns from her adversary. She extended the lead to 7-3 and never looked back eventually succeeding 11-4 to level the match score.

Control
Stung by the fast attacking play of Ai Fukuhara, Tie Yana played with outstanding control at the start of the third game, her topspin play exemplary.

She went ahead 8-4 and maintained the lead to succeed 11-6; an intriguing contest was developing.

More Consistent
The fourth game was littered with short rallies, both players aware that a crucial stage of proceedings had been reached. Tie Yana established a 6-4 lead, she served short and then played a heavy topspin stroke from either backhand or forehand to win point after point.

She played in a flawless manner and won the next five points to move into a three games to one lead; Tie Yana was displaying the full rage of her exquisite skills.

More Consistent
However, Ai Fukuhara responded, she raised the level of her play and moved into a 9-6 lead in the fifth game. Tie Yana responded to reduce the arrears to 9-8; the recovery prompted a Japanese `Time Out’ to be called.

The break worked but not in favor of Ai Fukuhara, Tie Yana won the next three points and another ITTF Pro Tour Women’s Doubles title was grasped.

Champion Again
It was the sixth of her career and the second time she had won in Brazil, she won in 2003 and four years later in 2007 she had won again.

To view the full results of the 2007 Brazilian Open click here.