he opponent for Waldner was Michael Maze, the man who in Shanghai twelve months earlier had reached the semi-finals of the Men’s Singles event at the Volkswagen 48th World Championships. Waldner had a plan and he executed that plan to near perfection. Early in every rally, Waldner attacked the backhand of Maze, rarely if ever straying to Danish left hander’s forehand and when Maze was able to attack with the forehand then the Swedish master exercised his blocking skills to great effect.
Wang Liqin and Wang Hao couldn’t resist the temptation to watch the two European stars in action and Chinese coach Li Xiaodong had the video camera focused closely on the duel.
Maze played his part, he is a talented young man and he extended matters the full five games distance. Maze tried to topspin at every opportunity but with Waldner concentrating attack after attack into the Dane’s body, playing his favoured forehand was a tough ask.
In the crucial fifth game, Waldner continued to exercise immense control but Maze stuck to his task, the young Dane fought. Waldner made the better start and led 8-5, the stage at which the whole Chinese Men’s team stood watching in homage, their match against the Netherlands being at an end.
Applause at the end of each point from whichever camp succeeded and applause also from a mesmerised crowd; total silence as either player served; everyone was spellbound.
The score reached 10-7 in Waldner’s favour, Maze played a forehand topspin from his backhand court wide to the Waldner forehand. Waldner, with an air of distain, flexed his right arm at the elbow, made contact before the peak of the bounce and a forehand topspin, played down-the-line, wide to the Maze forehand left the Dane grasping for thin air.
The crowd rose to their feet in applause and to Waldner’s left another group of people applauded in admiration, the Chinese Men’s national team. All had waited to see the contest conclude.
