Fan Zhendong (L) of China serves during the men's singles round of 16 match against Patrick Franziska of Germany at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
JEDDAH, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Reigning world champion Fan Zhendong suffered a dramatic defeat, losing to Germany's Patrick Franziska in full sets and bowing out of the men's singles round of 16 at the 2024 WTT Saudi Smash here on Wednesday.
The current world No. 2 was defeated 4-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10, while China's other two second-round survivors Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong made through to the quarterfinals, both with a 3-1 victory.
Wang overcame a challenging start to defeat Japan's Maharu Yoshimura 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 in a compelling third-round match, and Lin overcame Iranian Noshad Alamiyan 11-7, 8-11, 15-13, 11-9.
In the women's singles, Wang Yidi came back to defeat Monaco's Yang Xiaoxin 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7, Chen Meng swept aside Japan's Miu Hirano in straight sets, 11-2, 11-2, 11-7, Qian Tianyi defeated teammate Chen Xingtong 11-9, 11-9, 11-6, and Sun Yingsha beat South Korea's Jeon Ji-hee 11-4, 11-1, 11-5, all advancing to the quarterfinals.
Top-ranked duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha defeated the Japanese pair of Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata 12-10, 11-9, 12-10 to advance to the mixed doubles final.
In the women's doubles, Chen Meng and Wang Manyu emerged victorious in an all-Chinese quarterfinal against Wang Yidi and Chen Xingtong, winning the thrilling five-set encounter 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10.
In the men's doubles quarterfinals, Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan were shown the door out after losing 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 to Swedish pair Kristian Karlsson and Anton Kallberg, while Ma Long and Wang Chuqin defeated Cedric Nuytinck/Jakub Dyjas 11-3, 11-6, 6-11, 11-2 to advance to the semifinals.
The WTT Saudi Smash, held at King Abdullah Sports City from May 4 to 11, is Saudi Arabia's first professional table tennis tournament and the second Grand Slam event of 2024, following the Singapore Smash. ■
Wang Chuqin (L)/Sun Yingsha of China compete during the mixed doubles semifinal match against Harimoto Tomokazu/Hayata Hina of Japan at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (WTT/Handout via Xinhua)
Wang Chuqin of China hits a return during the men's singles round of 16 match against Yoshimura Maharu of Japan at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Yoshimura Maharu of Japan serves during the men's singles round of 16 match against Wang Chuqin of China at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Yoshimura Maharu of Japan serves during the men's singles round of 16 match against Wang Chuqin of China at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Yoshimura Maharu of Japan serves during the men's singles round of 16 match against Wang Chuqin of China at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Fan Zhendong of China reacts during the men's singles round of 16 match against Patrick Franziska of Germany at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Sun Yingsha of China reacts during the women's singles round of 16 match against Jeon Jihee of South Korea at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Wang Chuqin of China serves during the men's singles round of 16 match against Yoshimura Maharu of Japan at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Fan Zhendong of China hits a return during the men's singles round of 16 match against Patrick Franziska of Germany at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Yoshimura Maharu of Japan reacts during the men's singles round of 16 match against Wang Chuqin of China at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Chen Meng (front)/Wang Manyu of China compete during the women's doubles quarterfinal match against their compatriots Wang Yidi/Chen Xingtong at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (WTT/Handout via Xinhua)
Hirano Miu of Japan hits a return during the women's singles round of 16 match against Chen Meng of China at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Sun Yingsha of China hits a return during the women's singles round of 16 match against Jeon Jihee of South Korea at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Hirano Miu of Japan serves during the women's singles round of 16 match against Chen Meng of China at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Wang Yidi/Chen Xingtong (front) of China compete during the women's doubles quarterfinal match against their compatriots Chen Meng/Wang Manyu at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (WTT/Handout via Xinhua)
Chen Meng of China celebrates scoring during the women's singles round of 16 match against Hirano Miu of Japan at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Sun Yingsha (L) of China greets Jeon Jihee of South Korea after their women's singles round of 16 match at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Wang Chuqin (L)/Sun Yingsha of China compete during the mixed doubles semifinal match against Harimoto Tomokazu/Hayata Hina of Japan at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (WTT/Handout via Xinhua)
Wang Chuqin (L)/Sun Yingsha of China compete during the mixed doubles semifinal match against Harimoto Tomokazu/Hayata Hina of Japan at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (WTT/Handout via Xinhua)
Ma Long (R)/Wang Chuqin of China compete during the men's doubles quarterfinal match against Dyjas Jakub (Poland)/Cedric Nuytinck (Belgium) at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Chen Meng of China hits a return during the women's singles round of 16 match against Hirano Miu of Japan at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Ma Long (front)/Wang Chuqin of China compete during the men's doubles quarterfinal match against Dyjas Jakub (Poland)/Cedric Nuytinck (Belgium) at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
