Mozart finds his rhythm to make World Cup semis

Tomokazu Harimoto came back from the brink of defeat to get past fellow Japanese Koki Niwa 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 10-12, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8 to book his semi-final berth at the men’s table tennis World Cup in Chengdu.

Trailing 1-4 in game seven, Harimoto, the Asia Cup champion, clawed back to draw level at 8-8. He won both his service points at the crucial juncture and sealed an energy sapping win over his experienced rival, playing in his fourth World Cup.

Harimoto known as the Mozart for his explosive forehands failed to get past the quarter-finals in his debut last year.

“I did not expect that this match would be so tough. I didn’t even prepare for a deciding game! I led 2-0, but he managed to come back and even set up a 2-3 lead. I led 10-9 in the third, fourth and fifth games. Then I thought too much and played conservatively. We train together so we are very familiar with each other. Today I did not get used to his match rhythm. But I am still happy that I took the match,” said the elated Harimoto,” who had accounted for African champion Quadri Aruna in the previous round.

And it will be ??HARIMOTO VS MA LONG ??!!!!

?Are you excited for tomorrow already? I am, but there are still 2 more matches at the #ITTFWorldCup. Who will #LiftTheCup ?

Watch now on https://t.co/qtwSAvKnmM ? pic.twitter.com/QzTo0RQKaW
— ITTF World (@ittfworld) November 30, 2019

The 16-year-old Harimoto will now play Chinese veteran Ma Long in the semi-finals.

Ma Long, who was stretched by Simon Gauzy in the last 16, romped home 6-11, 11-9, 11-4, 13-11, 11-3 against Dimitrij Ovtcharov of German in the quarter-finals.

“I did not think too much about our head-to-head records. I just wanted to focus on today’s match. I feel that he made a lot of new changes and new tactics which worked really well, especially in the first game. I did not do anything special. I just told myself not to give up any points. He lost his concentration a little bit when he led (9-2 in game four) and after I managed to come back, maybe he got affected mentally. I think this game was the turning point in the whole match,” said Ma Long.

Ma Long would be eager to add the World Cup to his name after having to give the tournament a miss last year. The reigning world champion is looking for his third World Cup, having lifted the trophy in 2012 and 2015.

Ma Long’s teammate and the red hot favourite for the title, Fan Zhengdong overcame Austrian Daniel Habesohn in the last 16 and followed it up with a 11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10 win over German veteran Timo Boll in the quarter-finals.

Not quite the Roller ?like in 2016 but what a recovery this was❗️

Fan Zhendong beats Timo Boll 4️⃣- 1️⃣to book his Semifinal spot ?#ITTFWorldCup #Chengdu2019 pic.twitter.com/dagRIq7C0O
— ITTF World (@ittfworld) November 30, 2019

Zhendong had beaten Boll for the title In Paris last year and the latter had no answer once again to the superior all-round game of the Chinese ace.

“Frankly speaking I played better than Timo today. I made full preparations before the match. For sure both of us watched the match footage of our last encounter at Austria Open. Today I had a more positive mindset. When the score tied up, I played more aggressively,” said Zhendong, who won both the Austrian and German Opens this year.

The two time World Cup champion (2018, 2016) will play Chinese Taipei’s teenage sensation Lin Yun-jun in the semi-fnals.

Yunjun defeated Pan American champion Brazilian Hugo Calderano 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 in his quarter-final tie. Calderano was involved in an epic battle in the last 16 before overcoming American Kanak Jha 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 and the match seemed to have taken its toll on the Brazilian.

The 18-year-old has been a revelation in the international circuit this year, winning the Czech Open, Oman Open and the T2 Diamond Malaysia championships.

RESULTS

Round of 16: Ma Long (Chn) bt Simon Gauzy (Fra) 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 15-13; Tomokazu Harimoto (Jpn) bt Quadri Aruna (Ngr) 11-7, 13-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-6; Koki Niwa (Jpn) bt Lee Sansu (Kor) 11-6, 11-8, 14-16, 11-7, 8-11, 13-11; Dimitrij Ovtcharov (Ger) bt Mattias Falck (Swe) 11-8, 3-11, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 13-11; Fan Zhendong (Chn) bt Daniel Habesohn (Aut) 11-8, 13-11, 11-7, 11-2; Lin Yun-ju (Tpe) bt Kristian Karlsson (Swe) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9; Timo Boll (Ger) bt Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (Ind) 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8; Hugo Calderano (Bra) bt Kanak Jha (USA) 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8

Quarter-finals: Ma Long (Chn) bt Dimitrij Ovtcharov (Ger) 6-11, 11-9, 11-4, 13-11, 11-3; Tomokazu Harimoto (Jpn) bt Koki Niwa (Jpn) 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8; Fan Zhendong (Chn) bt Timo Boll (Ger) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10; Lin Yun-Ju (Tpe) bt Hugo Calderano (Bra) 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3