Joo Saehyuk Doubles Tally, Secure Men’s Singles Title in all-Korean Final

Courtesy of ITTF

May 28, 2016 – A debut in Linz in 1997, six years later the runner up in the Men’s Singles event at the Liebherr 2003 World Championships but in that period which is now approaching two decades, Joo Saehyuk has just one ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title to his credit.

On home soil in Jeonju in 2005 he beat Frenchman, Damien Eloi to reserve the top step of the podium; now approaching eleven years since that success, the man who is arguably the greatest defensive of this century, doubled his tally.

In an all-Korean final at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Zagreb Open on Saturday May 28th, he recovered from a two games to nil deficit to overcome Jung Youngsik in a seven games duel to arrest the title (4-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-7).

Lacked Concentration
“At the start of the match my concentration level was very poor; I hadn’t prepared and warmed up properly”, said Joo Saehyuk. “After the second game I found myself, Jung Youngsik played very much like Jun Mizutani, he received service well and he attacked very strongly.”

Runner Up 
Success for Joo Saehyuk meant that he avenged the defeat of last year when beaten by Jung Youngsik in the final at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Korean Open.

The runner up, more often than not that had been the lot of Joo SaeHyuk; in addition to the silver medal place in Korea last year, he had been the runner up on four other occasions.

In 2001 in Japan it was to be his lot, as later it was in Korea in 2010 and in 2012 in both Hungary and Brazil.

Fourth Appearance
Meanwhile, for Jung Youngsik, it was his fourth appearance in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles final.

Last year, in addition to his win in Korea, he succeeded in Australia having the week earlier been the runner up in the Philippines.

Korean Success
Zagreb is the 21st time that Korea has spawned a player who has won an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title; overall nine Koreans have achieved the feat.

In addition to Joo Saehyuk and Jung Youngsik the Korean players who have reserved the top step of the podium are: Cho Eonrae, Kim Dinghyun, Kim Taeksoo, Lee Jungwoo, Lee Sangsu, Oh Sangeun and Ryu Seungmin.

Visit ITTF.com for complete results and coverage of the 2016 ITTF World Tour Zagreb Open.