The final weekend of the WTT Champions Incheon is officially underway! Today saw an intense lineup of quarterfinal clashes, with all eyes now turning to tomorrow’s final day, featuring both the semifinals and finals. Let’s take a look at how the players battled for a spot among the last four.
Miwa Harimoto (WR #5) def. Kuai Man (WR #7) 4-0
Scores: 11-8, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Miwa Harimoto delivered a statement performance against Kuai Man, dominating in straight games. Despite losing both of their previous encounters, the 16-year-old Japanese star showed her rapid development, recently cracking the Top 5 in the world and celebrating her 100th WTT career win. Against Kuai, Miwa was clinical and composed, booking her place in the semifinals with ease.
Lin Yun-Ju (WR #14) def. Sora Matsushima (WR #33) 4-1
Scores: 11-9, 11-5, 11-3, 4-11, 11-4
After eliminating Tomokazu Harimoto in the previous round, Lin Yun-Ju faced another Japanese young gun in Sora Matsushima, who had not dropped a single game before today. But Lin, with a 3-0 head-to-head lead going in, kept that record intact. With precise play and strong serves, Lin claimed a confident 4-1 win to guarantee himself at least a bronze medal.
Zhu Yuling (WR #37) def. Satsuki Odo (WR #8) 4-2
Scores: 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9
Zhu Yuling continues her inspiring comeback story. Having already taken out Hina Hayata, she faced another Japanese powerhouse in Satsuki Odo. After going down two games, Zhu turned the match around with her trademark resilience and experience. It’s her second win over Odo this year, and it sends her into the semifinals in brilliant fashion.
Lee Sang Su (WR #45) def. Lin Gaoyuan (WR #10) 4-2
Scores: 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4
In front of his home crowd, Lee Sang Su keeps his dream run alive. After shocking both Felix Lebrun and Anders Lind, he faced Lin Gaoyuan in a classic battle. With a narrow 6-5 head-to-head advantage before the match, Lee edged out the tight sets with brilliant timing and mental strength. With this win, the Korean veteran extends the H2H to 7-5 and reaches the semis.
Wang Yidi (WR #3) def. Shin Yubin (WR #10) 4-1
Scores: 11-8, 11-3, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3
Wang Yidi came into this match with a dominant 8-0 head-to-head against Shin Yubin – and she made it 9. Despite a fourth-set push from the Korean, Wang controlled the match with her speed and consistency. As the top seed, she now faces Zhu Yuling in a high-stakes all-Chinese semifinal.
Patrick Franziska (WR #8) def. Truls Moregard (WR #7) 4-3
Scores: 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 4-11, 13-11
Teammates turned rivals – Franziska and Moregard both represent 1. FC Saarbrücken in the Champions League, but today they were opponents in an unforgettable thriller. After Franziska took a 3-1 lead, a controversial edge ball in game five shifted momentum. Truls fought back, taking it to a deciding game, but Franziska held his nerve in crunch time, winning 13-11 and leveling the head-to-head.
Chen Xingtong (WR #4) def. Mima Ito (WR #9) 4-2
Scores: 11-6, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
Chen Xingtong entered with a commanding 7-1 head-to-head record and showed why. Although Mima Ito led 2-1 at one point, Chen adjusted well and rattled off three straight games to close out the match. She now sets up an exciting semifinal against Miwa Harimoto.
Xiang Peng (WR #23) def. Hugo Calderano (WR #5) 4-1
Scores: 7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9
In one of the biggest upsets of the day, Xiang Peng eliminated #2 seed Hugo Calderano. Despite losing their previous two encounters, Xiang bounced back after dropping the first game. He used the opportunity of missing top Chinese players to make a deep run and will now face Patrick Franziska in the semifinals.
SEMIFINAL LINEUP – WTT CHAMPIONS INCHEON:
WOMEN'S SEMIFINALS
Miwa Harimoto vs Chen Xingtong
🇨🇳 Wang Yidi vs Zhu Yuling
MEN'S SEMIFINALS
Xiang Peng vs Patrick Franziska
Lin Yun-Ju vs Lee Sang Su
The stage is set. Who will become WTT Champion in Incheon? We'll find out tomorrow.
Photo Source: WTT