What a crowd pleaser this match truly was today on the 28th January 2012! The Slovenian Open World Tour had the match everyone had all be waiting for! A repeat of last year’s epic match between Ma Long and Bojan Tokic at the World Table Tennis Championships 2011. Last year in May, China's Ma Long was heavily challenged by Slovenia’s Bojan Tokic as the World number 1 just beat Bojan.
Today saw repeat of this epic match up, although this time with a packed arena of Slovenian fans! Could Bojan win this time around?
Photo by: AP PHOTO
In the opening set, Bojan led Ma Long by 8 points to 6. The Slovenian crowd were cheering every point, even when Bojan won the point from a net shot. However, China’s Ma Long maintained his focus and stole the first set 11-8.
In the second set the crowd once again used their all in lifting the spirits of Bojan. The set tied at 5-5 with a spectacular rally which saw Ma Long rip a forehand wide to win the point! Bojan was making great use of his consistent backhand to maintain strength in the rally, from there he pivoted and used his strong forehand to dominate the point. The score line was now at 8-6 to Ma Long with the crowd still heavily clapping and doing their absolute all to lift the Slovenian Warrior. Ma Long progressed to 10-6 with Bojan missing a trademark backhand smash. Ma Long won the second set 11-6.
Ma Long now in the driving seat of the match, Bojan had to do something special to get back in this match. An incredible rally at 5-4 saw Bojan dominate the table with his astonishing backhand control. However, with Bojan giving it his all Ma Long still had the advantage in the set. Long used his devastating forehand to take down the fighter from Slovenian and won the third set 11-7.
In the fourth set the points were tied at 3-3 with the crowd still egging Bojan on to make a heroic comeback. The next three points were of the highest standard with spectacular rallies taking place with Tokic having everything to play for. Bojan was now 6-3 up! Bojan hit some incredible forehands to put himself in a 10-6 lead! The crowd erupted with joy as Bojan was a set a way from making his comeback. With Bojan Tokic clipping the net and finishing the point on a forehand winner, the match went into a fifth set. The crowd jumped off their seats with joy.
Ma Long now led the match by 3 sets to 1 with the crowd really getting behind Bojan now. Ma Long led the set 2-1 with the next point being the rally of the match, both players back from the table hitting backhands and forehands with Bojan just missing. Again a sensational backhand winner levelled the points for Bojan to make the score 4-4. The crowd clapping with excitement! The next 6 points went to Ma Long with the World number 1 making no unforced errors. Ma Long won his first match point to win the fifth set 11-4.
Ma Long defeated Bojan Tokic by 4 games to 1 with scores: 11-8,11-6,11-7,6-11,11-4
The Slovenian crowd were spectacular throughout the whole match. There was an incredible applause for both players at the end of the match as Ma Long and Bojan Tokic shock hands with one another.
Ma Long will now play Wang Eugene at 18.30 GMT. Stay tuned, as the other Men's Singles round of 16 are currently in progress. You can watch the Slovenian Open World Tour in our ITTF Live Streaming with chat here
TableTennisDaily
Today saw repeat of this epic match up, although this time with a packed arena of Slovenian fans! Could Bojan win this time around?
Photo by: AP PHOTO
In the opening set, Bojan led Ma Long by 8 points to 6. The Slovenian crowd were cheering every point, even when Bojan won the point from a net shot. However, China’s Ma Long maintained his focus and stole the first set 11-8.
In the second set the crowd once again used their all in lifting the spirits of Bojan. The set tied at 5-5 with a spectacular rally which saw Ma Long rip a forehand wide to win the point! Bojan was making great use of his consistent backhand to maintain strength in the rally, from there he pivoted and used his strong forehand to dominate the point. The score line was now at 8-6 to Ma Long with the crowd still heavily clapping and doing their absolute all to lift the Slovenian Warrior. Ma Long progressed to 10-6 with Bojan missing a trademark backhand smash. Ma Long won the second set 11-6.
Ma Long now in the driving seat of the match, Bojan had to do something special to get back in this match. An incredible rally at 5-4 saw Bojan dominate the table with his astonishing backhand control. However, with Bojan giving it his all Ma Long still had the advantage in the set. Long used his devastating forehand to take down the fighter from Slovenian and won the third set 11-7.
In the fourth set the points were tied at 3-3 with the crowd still egging Bojan on to make a heroic comeback. The next three points were of the highest standard with spectacular rallies taking place with Tokic having everything to play for. Bojan was now 6-3 up! Bojan hit some incredible forehands to put himself in a 10-6 lead! The crowd erupted with joy as Bojan was a set a way from making his comeback. With Bojan Tokic clipping the net and finishing the point on a forehand winner, the match went into a fifth set. The crowd jumped off their seats with joy.
Ma Long now led the match by 3 sets to 1 with the crowd really getting behind Bojan now. Ma Long led the set 2-1 with the next point being the rally of the match, both players back from the table hitting backhands and forehands with Bojan just missing. Again a sensational backhand winner levelled the points for Bojan to make the score 4-4. The crowd clapping with excitement! The next 6 points went to Ma Long with the World number 1 making no unforced errors. Ma Long won his first match point to win the fifth set 11-4.
Ma Long defeated Bojan Tokic by 4 games to 1 with scores: 11-8,11-6,11-7,6-11,11-4
The Slovenian crowd were spectacular throughout the whole match. There was an incredible applause for both players at the end of the match as Ma Long and Bojan Tokic shock hands with one another.
Ma Long will now play Wang Eugene at 18.30 GMT. Stay tuned, as the other Men's Singles round of 16 are currently in progress. You can watch the Slovenian Open World Tour in our ITTF Live Streaming with chat here
TableTennisDaily
