Swedish Open 2011

[blahness]

I was referring to Ma Long saving 7 game points. I don't think it should have mattered to Ma Long if he won that 4th game or not. He had a 3-0 lead. There is not much difference winning 4-0 and 4-1. At 3-0 he was not going to lose, not to Skadochkov.

If Ma Long does not have game winning shots what are his over the table backhand banana, his forehand flick, his forehand third ball kill? Every player has points where they are struggling. He was struggling with Skadochkov in that 4th game. There is no doubt about it. I am not sure why. But, he was up 3-0, he won 4-0. In a way he might have been better off dropping the 4th game and refinding his rhythm in the 5th game to win convincingly. Now if he looked like that in the 7th game of the match it would be a different story. And I have seen him get tight in the seventh game of a match. But I have seen everyone get tight. In the World Championships at 10-5 in the 6th game of the finals, Zhang Jike got extremely tight and started just pushing and hoping for Wang Hao to mess up. The whole match he was attacking Wang Hao's serve with his over the table backhand banana. And all a sudden he was tentative and pushing stuff that was long????? He almost choked. He only woke up when the pressure was back on.

Every player has that sometimes but, when you are up 3-0 and win 4-0 anyway, does it really matter? It is when you are down and have to come back from 3-1 back that shows what you have in terms of taking points and games. And you don't get to be ranked #1 in the world without an arsenal.

I agree with you. His BH over-the-table loop and FH flick and 3rd ball attack are pretty deadly.... I take back what i've said about Ma Long not having a specialty.

You're completely right...

 

[blahness]

Btw, Wang Liqin is playing perfect tactics against Wang Hao. Pushing deep into the middle to jam Wang Hao's BH, and then countering it strong to Wang Hao's deep BH or just plain attacking the weak cramped loop of Wang Hao. And with his serve, he's serving very short into Wang Hao's deep FH, along with deep fast topspin serves to Wang Hao's deep BH/middle to keep him honest. He's also not using his normal pendulum as much as he does usually, he's doing a kinda underspin/no spin serve and sometimes a bit of reverse sidespin serve to Wang Hao's short FH, to increase the angle. Looking forward to WLQ's first win over Wang Hao!

 

[blahness]

WLQ, please do not flick the ball. Wang Hao's too good at topspin rallies! Give him dead or sidespin funny balls to his middle! Stick to your tactics!

 

[Dan]

Wang Hao makes a huge comeback against Wang Liqin and has booked himself a place in the final of the Swedish Open. Wang Hao won by 4 games to 3 with scores 11-3,9-11,9-11,6-11,11-7,16-14,11-6.

Who will Wang Hao face? Ma Long or Seiya Kishikawa?

 

[azlan]

I was really gunning for Da Li to win it.. like I said before, my heart said Liqin, but my mind said Ah Hao. I think he'll meet Ma Long in the finals, and go on to win it.

 

[david93fcb]

Great comeback by Wang Hao, it's all set for a breath-taking final between him and Ma Long.
Kishikawa has been playing quite well so far, we'll hopefully see an entertaining match.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Well Ma Long is ripping through Kishikawa right now, up 3-0. So Wang Hao will probably face Ma Long. Who will win, well I think Ma Long is better than Wang Hao but it looks like Wang Hao is playing great and he is smarter than Ma Long and in the World Championships he used some intelligent tactics to get Ma Long out of rhythm. If He can do that, and if his forehand loop looks crisp like it did against Jun Mizutani he could win. But Ma Long is not Jun Mizutani. It will be fun to watch what happens not matter what.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Its funny. I cannot figure out why Ma Long kept going at Kishikawa's backhand in that last game but, I guess he wanted to challenge the best aspect of Kishikawa's game and see if he could win backhand to backhand. He could not really, but as soon as it went to the forehand, Kishidawa had no chance. And I guess it is not a problem to try things when you are up 3-0 and win 4-0.

It looks like Wang Hao and Ma Long will meet in the finals.

 

[Dan]

Well Ma Long is ripping through Kishikawa right now, up 3-0. So Wang Hao will probably face Ma Long. Who will win, well I think Ma Long is better than Wang Hao but it looks like Wang Hao is playing great and he is smarter than Ma Long and in the World Championships he used some intelligent tactics to get Ma Long out of rhythm. If He can do that, and if his forehand loop looks crisp like it did against Jun Mizutani he could win. But Ma Long is not Jun Mizutani. It will be fun to watch what happens not matter what.

Your spot on there Carl!

My predictions are Wang Hao for this final. (If Ma Long wins his semis hehe ) But yes Wang Hao's forehand has definitely improved and as you say if he can effect his rhythm and put pressure on Ma Long he has every chance! Also, Wang Haos backhand flick of serve is the best in the world! And he can open the play and pile pressure within seconds against his oppoent. Will be interesting!

I can't wait for this final!

 

[blahness]

I'm going to cheer for Ma Long! He should really be showing his dominance right now when he's officially out of the Olympic Singles name list. It's so unfair for him to miss out qualifying for the London Olympics Men Singles since he has been working so hard. Also, the Ma Long now is not the Ma Long of 2007-2010. He has improved his serves, tactics by just so much. Also, his FH is getting more and more powerful, and I would dare say that it is almost on par with WLQ's FH in terms of power generation.

PS: hint to Ma Long: Jam Wang Hao's middle as much as possible, and with as much variation as possible. Also, serve short to Wang Hao's extreme FH, coupled with fast high quality serves to his middle FH, or deep BH. And don't try to compete BH-BH with Wang Hao otherwise you'll really lose badly.

GO GO GO MA LONG!

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

I agree with you. His BH over-the-table loop and FH flick and 3rd ball attack are pretty deadly.... I take back what i've said about Ma Long not having a specialty.

By the way, from an emotional standpoint I sort of wish my favorite players (Ma Long and Zhang Jike) had no weaknesses also. But in the end, it is sort of nice that they are human and sometimes struggle against players they should have no trouble with: players they should beat like small children. It makes me feel better when that happens to me.

 

[Michal_Z]

Wang Hao makes a huge comeback against Wang Liqin and has booked himself a place in the final of the Swedish Open. Wang Hao won by 4 games to 3 with scores 11-3,9-11,9-11,6-11,11-7,16-14,11-6.

Who will Wang Hao face? Ma Long or Seiya Kishikawa?

Wang Hao is one lucky bastard, again, he got lucky in important point ...

Reminds me of Rotterdamme..

I hope Ma Long will get his payback

 

[blahness]

Your spot on there Carl!

My predictions are Wang Hao for this final. (If Ma Long wins his semis hehe ) But yes Wang Hao's forehand has definitely improved and as you say if he can effect his rhythm and put pressure on Ma Long he has every chance! Also, Wang Haos backhand flick of serve is the best in the world! And he can open the play and pile pressure within seconds against his oppoent. Will be interesting!

I can't wait for this final!

Indeed, the final featuring the world's 2 best players, and shakehand vs penhold on top of that! Can't wait for the final, i'll have to stay up till 1:45am to watch it....

 

[Dan]

Indeed, the final featuring the world's 2 best players, and shakehand vs penhold on top of that! Can't wait for the final, i'll have to stay up till 1:45am to watch it....

Hehe thats probably the best thing that you could do at 1.45 am hehe Will be an awesome final

Remember guys to log into the TTD chat lounge when the final begins so we can discuss the match as we are watching it! See ya then!

 

[azlan]

I will definitely try Dan, have a meeting monday morning..have to turn in early to get a good night sleep.

 

[Dan]

I will definitely try Dan, have a meeting monday morning..have to turn in early to get a good night sleep.

Ok mate, don't go to much out of your way

 

[Steven]

Random newsflash:
According to the commentator, Peng Tang married Yana Tie, and he now plays for Hongkong.

 

[Wilco]

Well...


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[Dan]

Semi Final Matches! Awesome Matches!

 

[Dan]

We are all in the TTD Chat Lounge! Don't forget to come in now and join us!