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(by Larry Hodges, photo by Larry Hodges: “Ying Yuyue and Cao Jing of China celebrate sweeping Sandpaper Singles”)

There were two groups of four, with the top two advancing to the money rounds. All other players advanced to the consolation brackets There were no big surprises in the two preliminary groups, with the two women from China winning their groups.

In Group 1, Cao Jing (CHN) won all three of her matches 2-0, by scores of 15-7, 15-7, 15-5, 15-11, 15-4, and 15-10. Finishing second was USA’s junior star Sara Gulabani, with 2-0 wins over Tania Melgar of Mexico (who finished third) and Audrey Rothier of France.

In Group 2, Ying Yuyue (CHN) struggled for two games against Viktoria Balics (HUN) before winning 15-14, 8-15, 15-3. Balics came in second, with Camille Morival (FRA) and Raquel “Rocky” Zubiate (USA) coming in third and fourth.

Semifinals

• Cao Jing (CHN) d. Viktoria Balics (HUN), 15-9, 15-7
• Ying Yuyue (CHN) d. Sara Gulabani (USA), 15-12, 15-13

Final

It was an all-out counter-hitting battle between the lefty Ying Yuyue and righty Cao Jing, with both Chinese players looking to play forehand as often as possible. Whoever did so won the majority of the points. The interesting thing here is that Cao is Ying’s coach! Cao coaches at Nanjing Tech University in the Jiangsu Province of China, with Ying her student. The two had been practicing sandpaper together for several months in preparation for the Ping Pong World Cup – and it paid off.

Game one was all Ying, 15-5. She just dominated with her forehand.

In game two, Cao went up 8-4, then it was 11-10, and Cao called a timeout. With Ying serving, she called for the 2-point ball – and won! So Ying goes up 12-11. But Cao immediately calls for a 2-point ball – and she wins as well! And so it’s a wash, and score is 13-12 Cao. Ying wins the next point (13-13), then Cao is up 14-13 game point. But she hits a forehand off, and it’s 14-all – and remember, you don’t have to win by two points. Cao is serving, and she does a very fast backhand serve to Ying’s middle, and Ying goes off, and it’s 15-14 for Cao, and we’re into the third and final game. (Coaches always know what serve to pull out when it’s close!)

The third game was all about momentum. The scores tell the story – just picture these alternate runs of points. Ying is down 2-5, then is up 7-6, then down 7-8, then up 11-8. (At 9-8, Cao smashed an apparent winner, but Ying chop-blocks a wide-angled winner to Cao’s wide, wide forehand.) Then Ying plays five quick, careless points in a row, missing easy counters, and in perhaps 90 seconds is down 11-13. Then she takes control with her forehand, goes up 14-13. And then . . . Ying wins 15-13 on an edge ball! What a thing to do to your coach. And so, $500 to Ying, $250 to Cao. I debated whether to ask if they were splitting the money but decided that’s between the two of them. They gave us a great, entertaining match, and both fought to the end. Immediately after the match the two held up a large Chinese flag banner, pictured above. Their hard work paid off!

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