Su Tsz Tung-Wong Hoi Tung, defied the odds
A day after the top seed in the men’s singles was shown the exit at the WTT Contender Taiyuan, the women’s doubles top seed has also crashed out.
Su Tsz Tung-Wong Hoi Tung, defied the odds with a brilliant comeback display, overturning a 0-2 deficit to stun Satsuki Odo-Sakura Yokoi 6-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-6 at the quarterfinal hurdle.
Celebrating the victory with a huge embrace, the Hong Kong, China pair couldn’t believe what they had just achieved, rescuing victory from the jaws of defeat to eliminate the title favourites. Now they sit just two wins away from dreamland.
Next on Tsz Tung-Hoi Tung’s radar is the local pair of Shi Xunyao-Han Feier. The fourth seeds also staged a mini turnaround in their quarterfinal showdown, replying to an early setback to defeat Miu Hirano-Miyuu Kihara 4-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-7.
The pick of the bunch from the women’s singles action was a rollercoaster clash between Qin Yuxuan and qualifier Jie Li, who went the distance in a breathtaking match eclipsing 53 minutes before the former took the win 11-8, 12-10, 4-11, 3-11, 13-11.
42-year-old Li, who reached the heights of World No.10 back in 2018, built her career on rock-solid defensive prowess, and her vast experience served her well in Friday’s encounter. Rolling back the years, Li kept things tight all the way to the decider, but would ultimately be undone as nineteen-year-old Yuxuan saved three match points at 7-10 down in the fifth to deny Li a spot in the last eight.
Elsewhere, Li Tianyang’s name stood out from the crowd in the men’s singles, as the World No.484 banked his ticket to the quarterfinals in style.
Facing off against No.3 seed Chen Yuanyu, all the pressure rested on the World No.24’s shoulders, and Li Tianyang took full advantage. Making Yuanyu’s life difficult from game one to the finish line, winning 11-7, 11-9, 12-10.
Tianyang’s eye-catching win blows the draw wide open, as Taiyuan sees another of its top-ranked players exit from title contention.
