chenhenry wrote: corsuse wrote: And again where's the match Wang Hao vs Ryu Sue Min? :D +1 Anybody?  I can't believe Wang Hao lost to Ryu... again.

anybody? please... ...

Im surprised no one picked up on a superb performance in the womens singles by Daniela Dodean, beating Feng Tianwei (WR6) Kim Kyung Ah (WR9)  and Tie Yana (WR14) on way to the semis. All Fantastic results. 

corsuse wrote: And again where's the match Wang Hao vs Ryu Sue Min? :D

+1 Anybody?  I can't believe Wang Hao lost to Ryu... again.

The Wang Liquin-Ma Long match was really interesting for me because the following two reasons:

- Wang Liquin had real problems with his mental game starting from 2006 and a peaked at the Olympics. Now I think he solved his problems and will be again a tough opponent for everyone (Ma Long/Xu Xin/Zang Jike included). Does anybody noted that when he made and error he really was upset and looked behind him almost falling? Now he is more calm and I think he his enjoying his game more.

- Wang Liquin found a style that cause great problem to both Ma Long and Zang Jikes. I think that the main cause is the combination in speed and spin of his loops and the smart use of backhand. I think that for both Ma Long and Zang Jikes there where huge problems to counter-loop the Wang Liquin loops because they are not as spinny has the Ma-Long and Xu-Xin ones but are fast and low arched causing Ma Long to have to hit them from a lower point or in any case from a different point than their sweet-spot. Wang Liquin tried to avoid to have Ma Long counter looping on his forehand loop and used in a very effective way his "last moment" down the line backhand, Ma Long is very fast and managed to play most of them but not with great power and with less balance allowing Wang Liquin to move him around.

I think the the Wang Liquin career will be longer than expected because he can compete in speed and power with the younger and now he has a key and the confidence to defeat even the stronger players.

In any case, for me, seeing Ma Long and Xu Xin looping around in the last Trial was really inspirational :-)

Why don't we all accept the fact that WLQ despite his age was able to outperform Ma Long for one match?

Doesn't matter whether Ma Long was sick or tired or not, everyone has excuses. Here are the facts.

Ma Long almost always beats WLQ.
Ma Long is currently better than WLQ.
WLQ beat Ma Long.

I'm proud of WLQ! He played a spectacular game! As for Ma Long, yes he could've played better, too bad he didn't/couldn't.

Jonan wrote: I don't think Ma Long was at his peak form, even if Wang Liqin was I think Ma Long still could've beaten him even with bad luck. I really think having to play against Joo right before Wang Liqin messed him up a bit, first game he hit a ton of forehands into the net and was slow and off balance. That could also have been caused by his apparent sickness. So if he won 1 game due to an edge and he lost 2, it would have come down to a 7th game. And Ma Long IS better, past 15 times he beat Wang Liqin 14 of them, and the one time he lost he played Wang Liqin 3 times that day in a super league match. There are few records on a stretch as near perfect as that with any matchup of any two players. Not saying that Wang Liqin didn't play well, or isn't good in any way, Ma Long's relative floundering may very well have come from clever placement and spin alterations by Wang, he seemed to use a lot of strategy against Ma Long, lots of clever placements, variating his forehand and backhand spins. I still think Ma Long is the better player and should have won if there were no edge shots/sickness/Chinese team politics involved.

Oh come on, if he's really that sick then he wouldn't have beaten all other players, dont tell me the sickness only strikes him in the last match. Besides, while he's being '' sick '', his loops are still crazy and for a top quality athlete, a cold shouldn't be that big of a problem, Waldner used to play and win when he had a 39 degrees fever...

SoWhySoSerious wrote: Jonan wrote: I watched very closely. It's not easy for Ma Long to lose to anyone. Ma Long was sick and his game was off due to such and Wang Liqin got two edge shots at the end of close games that he would have otherwise lost and he ended up winning because of those. I can't agree with you.His world ranking number 1 doesn't make him unbeaten.Wang Liqin was in perfect shape and Ma Long was at his usual level.Liqin was simply better.I didn't put this rally to video but in second set Wang was leading 11-10 and Ma long made edge shot what more he did it again in next rally and eventually won this set.

I don't think Ma Long was at his peak form, even if Wang Liqin was I think Ma Long still could've beaten him even with bad luck. I really think having to play against Joo right before Wang Liqin messed him up a bit, first game he hit a ton of forehands into the net and was slow and off balance. That could also have been caused by his apparent sickness.

So if he won 1 game due to an edge and he lost 2, it would have come down to a 7th game. And Ma Long IS better, past 15 times he beat Wang Liqin 14 of them, and the one time he lost he played Wang Liqin 3 times that day in a super league match. There are few records on a stretch as near perfect as that with any matchup of any two players.

Not saying that Wang Liqin didn't play well, or isn't good in any way, Ma Long's relative floundering may very well have come from clever placement and spin alterations by Wang, he seemed to use a lot of strategy against Ma Long, lots of clever placements, variating his forehand and backhand spins. I still think Ma Long is the better player and should have won if there were no edge shots/sickness/Chinese team politics involved.

Hey guys!

 

This is my last insallment of the qatar open :) hope you enjoyed the coverage

 

Cya

 

TTD2

 

Qatar Open 2010 - Wang Hao Ma Lin vs Xu Xin Wang Liqin

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c63xu07K9bU

Jonan wrote: ejmaster wrote: Are you blind Jonan?. Then watch the video Wang Liquin Ma long. That is the way Ma Long lost. Because this time Wlq played better than Ma Long. It is easy. Assume that.  I watched very closely. It's not easy for Ma Long to lose to anyone. Ma Long was sick and his game was off due to such and Wang Liqin got two edge shots at the end of close games that he would have otherwise lost and he ended up winning because of those.

I can't agree with you.His world ranking number 1 doesn't make him unbeaten.Wang Liqin was in perfect shape and Ma Long was at his usual level.Liqin was simply better.I didn't put this rally to video but in second set Wang was leading 11-10 and Ma long made edge shot what more he did it again in next rally and eventually won this set.

Are you blind Jonan?.

Ma Long was definitely not at his best or usual touch. This is not an excuse for him but if you look right at the warm up. He mislooped alot. He looked tired and yes looks like he was ill or sleepy

Sallom89 wrote: jcdi wrote: I saw him sniffing during his match vs WLQ I was wondering about his sniffing too.

Honestly, I believe that either Ma Long was sick and that threw him off, or he threw the game. I don't see any way he should have lost. Over the last nearly 2 years Ma Long is 14-1 against Wang Liqin, I just don't see him losing unless he was forced to by something.

Blue Sponge - two victories !

Oh, I forgot, is it me or don't you find the game in Doha is going much slower than last week in China when the guys where battling for WTTC qualification ? Looks like Ma was forcing his motions to get half speed he had last week...odd !