Second Seed, Tie Yana Captures Women's Singles Title

MATCH REPORT

Volkswagen Open Korea 2006

Sunday 4th June 2006

Women's Singles Final

Wang Yue Gu (Singapore) v Tie Yana (Hong Kong)

It was the first appearance for Wang Yue Gu in a Women's Singles final on the ITTF Pro Tour whilst for Tie Yana it was her sixth and she has a good record in final.

She has won on four of the six occasions.

It was the second time the two had met on the ITTF Pro Tour in a Women's Singles event, the previous occasion being in July 2005 at the Liebherr United States Open when Tie Yana had won at the semi-final stage in five games.

Tie Yana was clearly more comfortable with the environment in a televised final, she went ahead 6-1 in the opening game and never surrendered the lead, she won 11-5.

The ability of Tie Yana to topspin consistently from both backhand and forehand had been paramount in the opening game. Also she could cope with the fast backhand attacks of Wang Yue Gu and kept her opponent under pressure, forcing errors.

In the second game Wang Yue Gu attacked quickly, she tried to give Tie Yana as little time as possible and on several occasions forced the Hong Kong player back from the table. However, Tie Yana remained calm, Wang Yue Gu made errors attacking with the forehand.

The lady from Hong Kong went ahead 10-6 and at the first opportunity won the game 11-6.

In the third game neither player was able to establish an advantage, they were level at 6-all, the stage at which Wang Yue Gu played positively, attacked quickly and went ahead 9-6, then 10-6.

However, Tie Yana was not going to surrender the game without a fight. She won the next three points. Wang Yue Gu called `Time Out'. It was a crucial moment.

The break worked, she won the next point by attacking with venom close to the table. 11-9 to Wang Yue Gu. The match deficit was down to one game.

The fourth game saw Wang Yue Gu make every effort to stay close the table, every effort to attack quickly, every effort to give Tie Yana minimal time. However, she made mistakes.

Tie Yana went ahead 7-4, then 8-4 following a fast forehand topspin wide to the Wang Yue Gu forehand.

Serving with the backhand, not usual for Tie Yana, she went ahead 9-4; Wang Yue Gu recovered to 9-6 but trying to hit the backhand a degree too hard, reaching forward, she erred. Tie Yana went ahead 10-6 and secured an 11-6 success.

Wang Yue Gu was well aware that she had to attack quickly but Tie Yana played every attacking stroke with topspin, not fast, controlled spin and it forced errors from the Singaporean.

However, at 3-all the players were level, all three points won by Tie Yana being errors from Wang Yue Gu. Tie Yana moved ahead 6-3 then 8-5, the writing was on the wall.

Tie Yana was the more consistent and she was in control. She led 9-6, then at 10-6 she had match point and at the first opportunity succeeded. She won the game 11-6 and was therefore the champion.