Latest news with #ChenYi
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Macau's Zhu claims WTT US Smash victory, then hails ‘eye-catching' display by Chen
Macau's Zhu Yuling won the World Table Tennis (WTT) US Smash women's singles title in Las Vegas on Sunday, and then praised the 'eye-catching' performance of her beaten opponent Chen Yi. Chen had captured the imagination of fans in mainland China after eliminating some of the game's biggest stars, including world No 1 Sun Yingsha, en route to the final. But Zhu, herself a former world No 1, battled back from two games down to win 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 at the Orleans Arena. 'I hope everyone will give Chen a round of applause,' Zhu said. 'Her performance was very eye-catching. 'She has experience beyond her age, and watching her was like seeing myself when I was younger.' Zhu Yuling (right) came back from behind to beat Chen at the WTT United States Smash on Sunday. Photo: Handout Zhu, who also urged Chen to 'be yourself' and ignore what the outside world thinks, said it was a game of fine margins.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese rising star reaches WTT Smash final, eyes first title
There will be a new women's champion at the World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash after China's Chen Yi and Zhu Yuling of Macau reached the final on Saturday. Chen, 19, beat compatriot Kuai Man 4-3 in her first semi-final, winning 6-11, 11-3, 3-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-9 in 53 minutes. Chen levelled the match on three occasions and came from behind in the tense decider. It was the rising star's second win in as many matches against world No 5 Kuai. 'I had played against Kuai so many times before and we were on a similar level,' Chen said. 'I guess I had a bit more luck today, and I am thrilled right now. '[My final opponent] Zhu is more experienced. I lost 3-0 to her in Taiyuan, so obviously I am the underdog here and I will do the best I can to challenge her.' Zhu Yuling has her sights on a first title after reaching the WTT Smash final. Photo: Handout Chen's run – which included a stunning 3-1 win over Sun Yingsha and a victory from 3-0 down to eliminate Japan's Hina Hayata – in Las Vegas sparked an off-field saga back home.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Macau's Zhu comes out on top in Vegas, as Sun, Wang suffer shock defeats
Table tennis world champion Sun Yingsha suffered a shock defeat on Thursday, going down 3-1 to compatriot Chen Yi in the third round of the World Table Tennis United Smash in Las Vegas. The triple Olympic gold medallist had only lost one of her 33 singles matches this year before coming up against Chen, who beat the world No 1 11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9. Sun's only other defeat was in February at the Asia Cup final, when she was swept by compatriot Wang Manyu. Wang was also dumped out of the Vegas competition on Thursday, going down 3-1 to Macau's Zhu Yuling. Ranked No 17 in the world, Chen said she had not expected to beat a player she had faced just once before on the international stage. At that junior tournament in 2015, Sun eased to a 3-0 win. Sun Yingsha lost a singles match for just the second time all year. Photo: Xinhua 'I did play well in the match and I am thrilled now,' she said. 'I didn't do anything special technically or tactically. 'She's the world No 1 after all, so I was just trying to fight against her the best I could. I focused on every point and may have handled it slightly better at those crucial points.
