Twenty-Two, the Sound of Harmony in Suzhou
August 23, 2010

Zhang Jike oustanding in Suzhou Photo By: ITTF Asia / Pacific Office

Courtesy of ITTF ZHANG Jike and LI Xiaoxia, both from the host nation and both 22 years old emerged successful on Sunday August 22, 2010 at the Harmony China Open in Suzhou, winning the respective Men’s and Women’s Singles titles in impressive fashion. It was for ZHANG Jike a milestone in his career, his first ever ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles crown, as for LI Xiaoxia, it was her eighth and a return to full recovery; earlier in the year illness had forced a period of time in hospital.

LI Xiaoxia ousted Chinese national team colleague, DING Ning, in the semi-finals before defeating Korea’s KIM Kyung Ah in the final, the latter having ended the incredible run of Spain’s SHEN Yanfei at the penultimate stage.

Meanwhile, ZHANG Jike overcame 32 year old WANG Liqin, three times Men’s Singles World champion, in the semi-finals and MA Lin, the reigning Olympic champion in the final.

Defeat for MA Lin in an all China Men’s Singles final but in a similar scenario in the Men’s Doubles gold medal duel earlier in the day it had been success.

He partnered XU Xin, the man he beat in the semi-final stage of the Men’s Singles event, to victory; the duo accounting for compatriots CHEN Qi and WANG Liqin in the final.

Similarly, the Women’s Doubles final was an all-Chinese affair and a second title for LI Xiaoxia. She partnered GUO Yue to victory over DING Ning and LIU Shiwen.

Winners of the Women’s Doubles title at the H.I.S. World Championships in Yokohama in 2009, it was for GUO Yue and LI Xiaoxiua their seventh ITTF Pro Tour Women’s Doubles title as a partnership, as for MA Lin and XU Xin it was their first in harmony.

Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
ZHANG Jike (CHN) bt WANG Liqin (CHN) 2-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6
MA Lin (CHN) bt XU Xin (CHN) 6-11, 11-7, 11-1, 14-12, 11-6
Final
ZHANG Jike (CHN) bt MA Lin (CHN) 11-3, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8

Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
LI Xiaoxia (CHN) bt DING Ning (CHN) 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-6
KIM Kyung Ah (KOR) bt SHEN Yanfei (ESP) 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5
Final
LI Xiaoxia (CHN) bt KIM Kyung Ah (KOR) 12-10, 12-10, 11-3, 11-6

Men’s Doubles
Final
MA Lin/XU Xin (CHN) bt CHEN Qi/WANG Liqin (CHN) 14-12, 3-11, 11-4, 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7

Women’s Doubles
Final
GUO Yue/LI Xiaoxia (CHN) bt DING Ning/LIU Shiwen (CHN) 11-3, 12-14, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9