Wang Liqin, three times the World Champion and twice the victor in Doha, overcame Ma Long to book his place in the Men’s Singles final at the Qatar Open on Sunday 21st February 2010.

It was vintage Wang Liqin, the counter topspin maestro as safe as ever as he overcame the current world no.1 ranked player. Gaining in confidence as the duel progressed, Wang Liqin secured a six games victory.

He won11-5, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9.

Counter Topspin
The master of the counter topspin art, Wang Liqin was the master of that art in the first game of the duel; he was the more consistent in a game where Ma Long never reached fourth gear, the piledriver forehand was not in evidence.

Equally in the second game Wang Liqin was matching Ma Long in every department and had chances to move into a two games to nil lead.

Fortune
He led 10-9 and 11-10 but was not able to convert the advantage as fortune favoured Ma Long; at 11-10 a Ma Long forehand clipped the edge of the table, un-returnable. On such minute margins sporting contests are won or lost.

Ma Long sighed, apologised but showed no compassion. He won the next three points and was level.

Third Game
The third game followed the pattern of the second; neither player could establish a clear advantage.

Ma Long unleashed exocet forehand missiles, Wang Liqin countered like superman.

Alas at 8-all, Wang Liqin served long, too long, the ball missed the table; the next point went to Ma Long, 10-8 and serving. Wang Liqin saved both game points, then won the next two, four in a row, to steal the game.

He led by two games to one.

Fourth Game
Superb table tennis was the order of the day with the scores level at 6-all.

It was at that point, Wang Liqin took control, he was simply superb, no errors. He won the next five points to move into a three games to one lead.

Fifth Game
Ma Long made the better start, he moved into a three-one lead but Wang Liqin levelled. He appeared very clear with his thinking, making full use of the table and prevented Ma Long executing fierce forehands.

Wang Liqin went ahead 5-3, Ma Long called “Time Out”.

Ma Long lost the point immediately after the break but then won the next five to move ahead 8-6. He surrenderd just two more points to win the game and reduce the match deficit to one game.

Sixth Game
Yet again the counter topspin class of Wang Liqin was evident as in the sixth game he established a 5-3 lead with Ma Long tending to use his backhand more and not move around in search of his lethal main weapon, his forehand.

Wang Liqin moved ahead 6-4, Ma Long levelled and serving won the next two points. Four points in a row was soon five. He led 9-6, Wang Liqin drew level at 9-all, then with a fantastic backhand block held match point.

An opportunity, he seized the opportunity with a blistering forehand topspin along the parallel. He was in the final.

Portent for Future
Certainly history favoured Ma Long; in world ranking events the pair had met on seven previous occasions with Wang Liqin having won only two of the encounters.

In fact the result gained by Ma Long in opposition to Wang Liqin can be regarded as quite a portent for the future.

The first time they ever met on the international stage it was Ma Long who posted a shock result when he beat Wang Liqin in the third round of the Men’s Singles event at the Volkswagen Open Singapore in September 2006. At the time Wang Liqin was the reigning Men’s Singles World champion and Ma Long was an upstart of 17 years old!

Panasonic China Open
Later in the same month Wang Liqin gained revenge when the pair met at the Panasonic China Open but then of the next five meetings Wang Liqin won only once. Again it was at the Panasonic China Open, in September 2009, Wang Liqin succeeded when they faced each other in the Men’s Singles quarter-finals.

Otherwise, Ma Long has always been in the ascendany.

Convincing
In 2007 he won on the ITTF Pro in Croatia and Kuwait; in 2008 at the Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals and in June 2009 at the Harmony China Open.

Furthermore, on the two most recent occasions he won with ease; no individual game was surrendered.

However, in Qatar that was not to be; Wang Liqin wrought revenge; Ma Long had to settle for the bronze medal.

Source: www.ittf.com

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