(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT)
The WTT Champions Series event this week is in Frankfurt. Half a million in prize money split between two events – Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles. The events have advanced through to the Semifinals, with Semis played late today and the Finals on Sunday.
The biggest story of the tournament thus far is a 3-0 stomping of World No. 1 Wang Chuqin by Anton Kallberg. Chuqin had an amazing run for a year and built a huge lead in the rankings, but he has had a string of uncharacteristically early exits and that massive rankings lead is getting smaller. For Kallberg, he continues to play great and he is likely heading back into the Top 20 after this week.
Kallberg’s next opponent will be Truls Moregard. Moregard took out Felix Lebrun 3-1 in the Quarterfinals and is in the middle of a dominant run himself. Either way, Sweden will have a player in tomorrow’s Final.
In the other half of the draw, the two highest seeds have each advanced. Lin Yun-Ju has fought through three straight 3-2 wins. He narrowly topped Alexis Lebrun in their opening round match, needed a come-back against Dang Qiu, and outlasted Hugo Calderano. He will next face Lin Shidong, the hottest player on the tour. Shidong has not yet been pushed in this tournament, logging 3-0, 3-0, and 3-1 wins on his way to the Semifinals.
Disappointing results for the hometown crowds as the very hot Benedikt Duda lost in the second round in straight sets to Shidong, Franziska and Ovtcharov were each upset in their opening round matches, Dang Qiu fell (and blew a lead) to Lin Yun-Ju. In fact, the only German to win two matches was Ricardo Walther, who topped Robles and upset Quadri Aruna before falling 3-1 to Anton Kallberg in the Quarters.
More action is coming this weekend.
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