Asian Games Tennis Update: Chinese womens make it to the finals while men fall out
Although she failed to secure the coveted spot at Doha this year, world number eleven Li Na led China through to the final of the womens team tennis at the Asian Games.
Top seed China met fourth seed Thailand in the semi final on Monday. Enjoying a 3-0 win over the Thais, the Chinese sailed their way into the finals. Asian number one, Li Na along with compatriot Peng Shuai enjoyed straight set
wins over the Thais, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn and Tamarine Tanasugarn in the two singles matches. Doubles partners Zhang Shuai and Yan Zi defeated the Thai duo of Nudnida Luangnam and Varatchaya Wongteanchai to take the team score to 3-0. The Chinese enjoyed
a similar score of 3-0 against the team of Kyrgyzstan in the quarterfinals. The Chinese singles and doubles enjoyed easy wins in the quarterfinals as well.
The Chinese womens team met with disappointment four years ago when they met with an unexpected defeat to Uzbekistan in the semi finals in the 2006 Doha Games leaving gold to defending champion Chinese Taipei. Having made it one-step
further this time, Li Na is reported to have said, "It's just fine. Four years ago, we were defeated by Uzbekistan at the Doha Asian Games. This time we won't repeat the failure."
Joining China in the final is the team from Chinese Taipei consisting of Chang Kai-chen, Chan Yung-jan and doubles partners Chuang Chia-jung and Hsieh Su-wei. The Chinese Taipei team moved into the finals after defeating second
seeded team of Japan, which included the Japanese veteran, Kimiko Date-Krumm. Krumm was the only Japanese to have won her match making the team score 2-1 and denying Chinese Taipei a landslide victory of 3-0.
The Chinese Taipei men’s team also made its way into the final despite the retirement of top player and favourite, Lu Yen-hsun. Hsun led his team into the semis after defeating the Philippines team by 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
Winning one match each, it all came down to the doubles partners Chen Ti and Yi Chu Huan to win their match and secure a spot for the Taipei team in the semis.
Hsun retired from the Asian Games on Monday due to a waist injury. His compatriot Chen Ti played in his place. Taipei met India in the semis and advanced into the finals with a 2-1 score. Hsun’s retirement came as a blow to the
team, since Chen Ti lost his match against Indian Somdev Devvarman. Once again, Ti and Chu Huan came through winning against the Indian doubles partners and taking Taipei into the finals. Although Somdev tried to keep the team afloat, India got the bronze
medal following their defeat in the doubles match.
Joining Taipei in the finals will be the Uzbekistan team. The Uzbeks secured a 2-1 win over the second seeded Japanese team to move into the finals. The Japanese are credited with removing the Chinese team from the games in the
quarterfinals, something for which they only have the bronze medal to show.
Although the Chinese womens have made it to the finals, the top seeded Chinese men’s team has failed to, owing to their defeat against Japan. Winning one match each, the score was levelled at 1-1 between China and Japan. The decider
was the doubles match between the Chinese duo of Mao-xin Gong and Li Zhe and Japanese Matsui Toshihide and Takao Suzuki. Winning one set each, the Chinese fell short in the third set losing it 2-6 to the Japanese duo. China lost the doubles match 6-7, 7-6,
2-6. Losing 1-2 to Japan, China was removed from the Asian Games with no medal win.
With top seed China making it to the womens team final, the event is sure to draw out a large crowd. Going for a gold medal win, Taipei has greatly increased her chances with both its teams by making it to the finals in both the
categories.
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