China’s 20 year old Xu Xin, the man who had been given a reprieve at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event, secured gold in the early evening of Saturday 27th February 2010, by emerging as the champion at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open.

Similar to compatriot Ma Long, three years earlier in Kuwait, he secured his first ever ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles crown, saving match points in the sixth and seventh games to reserve the top step of the medal podium.

At the final hurdle Xu Xin beat Chinese National Team colleague Ma Lin by the margin of 10-12, 11-8, 10-12, 13-11, 5-11, 13-11, 12-10.

Establishing an Advantage
Neither player could establish a definitive lead in the first game; at 8-all, the scores were level, the stage at which Xu Xin unleashed his cannon like forehand to move into a 10-8 lead.

Ma Lin responded, he used his deft skills close to the net to win four points in a row and steal the first game.

Turn Around
A close first game success, Ma Lin raced into a 7-1 lead in the second game; Xu Xin reduced the deficit by winning the next four points and then levelled at 8-all before taking the lead at 9-8.

He won the next point to establish a 10-8 lead, just as in the first game; only this time he did not falter; he won the next point and levelled the match. Amazingly from trailing 7-1, he surrendered only one further point!

Turn Around
The recovery had boosted Xu Xin’s confidence; he moved ahead 6-2 in the third game.

Blocking in traditional penhold grip fashion and also utilising the modern day topspin from the reversed side of the racket, Xu Xin maintained his lead at 9-6.

Once again at 10-8 he held two game points, Ma Lin serving saved both game points; then as in the first game secured the next two to moved into a three games to one lead.

Parity
Success for Ma Lin, a close success and in the fourth game, matters were close with scores level at 9-all. At 10-9 Ma Lin held game point but Xu Xin levelled.

Again at 11-10 the advantage was with Ma Lin, the stage at which he took a “Time Out”. Xu Xin serving saved the game point; then with an un-returnable net cord, held game point; he converted the opportunity. I was parity.

Fifth Game Secured
A chance had been spurned by Ma Lin who in the fifth game advanced into a 4-2 lead.

He increased the lead to 7-3, eventually winning the game

Response
Comfortably beaten in the fifth game Xu Xin went ahead 3-1 in the sixth game but at 9-all the gladiators were level. Ma Lin won the next point, it was saved, then again at 11-10 he held match point; a stupendous rally, Xu Xin saved again.

Incredible top spin play and it was game point to Xu Xin and serving. He seized the chance, a deciding seventh game awaited.

The Decider
In the decisive seventh game Ma Lin made the better start. He won the first three points. Xu Xin called “Time Out”.

The break immediately worked, Xu Xin won the next three points and led 5-4 when the players changed ends.

Attacking with quite incredible speed and with lightning reactions Xu Xin moved ahead 8-5 but Ma Lin recovered, at 9-all it was parity.

Next point to Ma Lin, the next three to Xu Xin; it was gold for Xu Xin.

History
History pointed heavily in favour of Ma Lin.

He had much greater experience and held no less than 19 ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles titles as opposed to Xu Xin who was yet to open his account, his best being the runners up spot to Vladimir Samsonov at the Stag Belarus Open in 2008 and at the English Open on 2009 when beaten by Ma Long.

One Meeting
Furthermore, on the one occasion that the two had met in a world ranking event, Ma Lin had prevailed.

He won in June 2009 in seven games when the pair met in the third round of the Men’s Singles event at the Harmony China Open.

In 2010 in Kuwait Xu Xin reversed the result.

Source: www.ittf.com

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