The ITTF Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s World Cup Macao is proving difficult to predict as it brought another wave of strong performances and notable results at the Galaxy Arena, with players continuing to test the form book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Argentina\u2019s Horacio Cifuentes delivered one of the standout wins of the tournament so far, overcoming China\u2019s Liang Jingkun in a tightly contested five-game encounter 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8 in the men’s singles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Momentum shifted throughout, with Cifuentes moving ahead 9-5 in the deciding game before holding off a late push from Liang to close it out. To those watching, Cifuentes looked composed throughout but he was quick to set the record straight afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m feeling really happy right now. At first, I didn\u2019t believe I could win, but I felt good during the match. At one moment, I started to think, I can do it, why not? and I just continued fighting until the end. At 9-5, I wasn\u2019t calm at all, my stomach was burning. I just told myself, Horacio, come on, last points. Give your best now, go full in on every ball, and who knows?\u201d said Cifuentes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cifuentes recently changed his rubbers at the start of the year and this has set him up well to be playing at the level he exhibited today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
France\u2019s F\u00e9lix Lebrun settled old scores, defeating Chinese Taipei\u2019s Feng Yi-Hsin 11-6,\u00a08-11,\u00a011-4,\u00a011-5, avenging his loss at last year\u2019s World Cup where he missed his spot in the main draw by four points. With the tournament returning to the traditional best-of-five format, Lebrun found his footing and didn\u2019t look back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel really happy. It is always a difficult match against him; he beat me here last year, so I\u2019m glad to get the win this time and move on. Regarding the format change, it was easy to adjust because it\u2019s more traditional. I\u2019m happy to have full matches again \u2014 last year every point mattered for the standings, but now it\u2019s about winning the match. I always enjoy being in Macao, China. There isn\u2019t a full house just yet, but I think by the Round of 16 the crowd will really grow. I\u2019ll work hard to reach that stage so I can play in front of them,\u201d said Lebrun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, reigning champion Hugo Calderano opened his title defence with a straight sets 11-4,\u00a011-5,\u00a011-2 win over Slovenia\u2019s Lubomir Jancarik, setting up a meeting with Sweden\u2019s Kristian Karlsson tomorrow for a spot into the main draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am very happy to be back. This venue has a special feeling for me and I always enjoy playing here. It was a good first match. My focus has been on arriving in my best shape, and I feel like I\u2019ve been improving since the start of the year. Kristian Karlsson is a very strong player and it will be a tough match. We\u2019ve played many times before, so I know I need to be ready,\u201d said Calderano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No. 1 seed and the top title contender, China\u2019s Wang Chuqin similarly started his campaign without breaking a sweat defeating Romania\u2019s Eduard Ionescu in straight sets 11-8,\u00a011-7,\u00a011-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the women’s singles. India\u2019s Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula brought contrasting results for the Indian camp today.Batra defeated America\u2019s Lily Zhang in a tight battle starting with Batra leading confidently 2-0 and with two match points in the third set which Zhang saved and launched a come back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However Batra through wide shots on the table and strategic rally play regained her momentum and claimed her win 11-7, 11-2, 14-16, 5-11, 11-6. Akula, was unable to achieve the same result and was beaten 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 15-13, 11-8) by Portugal\u2019s Fu Yu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
France\u2019s Charlotte Lutz making her singles World Cup debut this year carried on her strong performance from Day 1 after narrowly losing to China\u2019s Kuai Man and recorded a 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 victory over Amy Wang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI knew Amy has a very good game and puts a lot of balls on the table. I prepared for this like I would for any match, and although I had some trouble at the beginning, I managed to find a solution. Once things turned my way, I felt really happy with how I played. This is my first time at the Women\u2019s Singles World Cup and I\u2019m very happy with my performance,” said Lutz .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It is a very strong tournament and even qualifying for it is difficult. Against Kuai Man yesterday, I was proud to fight back from 0-2 down to reach the fifth game. I was even leading 5-1 in the decider, but as we say, you never lead by enough. Still, I\u2019m pleased with my level and I hope to be back next year. It\u2019s also my first time in Macao, China, so I\u2019m looking forward to the next few days. I haven\u2019t had a chance to look around yet, so I definitely want to see more of the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hong Kong, China\u2019s Doo Hoi Kem also faced a close call, defeating Poland\u2019s Natalia Bajor 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6 in their fifth encounter with the match featuring long rallies and the momentum swinging back and forth between the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played Natalia a couple of times before and the results are always quite similar. Each point tends to involve long rallies and she moved me around a lot. I lost the first set and she had the upper hand early in the second as well. I watched her match against Wang Yidi yesterday. I just stayed patient and worked my way into the decider. I played well in the final set,\u201d said Hoi Kem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After two days of relentless upsets, the group stage reaches its climax tomorrow with a place in the main draw on the line. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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