Ma Long the Men's Singles Winner in Bremen
November 12, 2007

Ma Long (CHN) Photo Courtesy of ITTF

Courtesy of ITTF The final of the Men’s Singles event at the Liebherr German Open on Sunday November 11, 2007 was fifth time that the two Chinese stars, Ma Long and Ma Lin had met in a World Ranking event. Furthermore, it was the fifth time they had met on the ITTF Pro Tour and it was the fifth time they had met in 2007. Prior to the duel in Bremen, the score line was level; each had two wins, following the encounter in the northern German city, it was advantage Ma Long. He won 11-8, 11-7, 12-14, 11-5, 11-8.

Previous Meetings
The first meeting between the two saw Ma Lin win in five games at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event at the Liebherr Qatar Open in Doha in February; the following week in the final at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open, the verdict went in favor of Ma Long in six games.

Four months later in June they clashed at the quarter-final stage in Chiba at the Volkswagen Open Japan, when in four straight games Ma Long prevailed. Advantage Ma Long but one week ago in France, Ma Lin leveled matters. He won their semi-final clash in six games.

Finding Rhythm
At the start of the contest the points were short, both players trying to find a rhythm. They were level at 7-all with Ma Long serving. He took full advantage, short service, a powerful forehand and he was 9-7 ahead.

It was the gap he needed; he lost only one point to secure success by the margin of 11-8.

Attack
Receiving service in the second game Ma Lin looked to attack with his forehand; it either went on like a rocket or a reaction Ma Long block left him flat footed.

It was Ma Long who made the better start; he led 4-1 but Ma Lin recovered to level at 5-all. Attacking the Ma Lin service at every opportunity, forcing Ma Lin away from the table, inducing errors from his adversary, he won the next five points. Ma Long led 10-5.

Ma Lin saved the first two game points but not the third, Ma Long was two games to nil ahead.

Confident
Two games to nil ahead Ma Long was brimful of confidence; the forehand was in top gear, devastating. He went 4-0 ahead as the crowd gasped in amazement.

Forehand service and forehand attack was the simply philosophy for Ma Long. He moved into a 7-3 lead introducing the backhand topspin into the equation as he directed a tirade of attacking strokes into the body of Ma Lin.

The latter made errors, Ma Long went ahead 10-5; Ma Lin won the next two points.

Time Out
Accidentally the music played, the players paused, so Ma Long duly called “Time Out”; the first time on the ITTF Pro Tour that the man in charge of the music has called for a “Time Out”!

A pause, a time to re-think and the beneficiary was Ma Lin. He won the next three points and leveled at 10-all; next point to Ma Long, Ma Lin saved. It was 11-all. The situation repeated itself; it was 12-all, then game point to Ma Lin at 13-12.

Ma Long served with the backhand from the middle of the table, the serve drifted long, Ma Lin seized the chance, a fast forehand topspin was not returned by Ma Long. It was game to Ma Lin, 14-12.

Psychic
However, the loss of a sequence of points did not appear to affect Ma Long.

In the fourth game he came out “all guns blazing”, in typical style. He was relentless; he directed his attacks into the body of Ma Lin.

He won the game 11-5 and was three games to one ahead.

Confident
Ma Long started the sixth game in confident mood. He made the better start but Ma Lin recovered and at 8-all it was parity.

However, the next two points both went to Ma Long, it was match point. An opportunity and he took it at his first attempt.

Second title
Success for Ma Long; it was his second career Men’s Singles title on the ITTF Pro Tour.

In February he had won the Men’s Singles title at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open; on that occasion he beat Ma Lin in the final, in Bremen he did the same.