The top four seeded players booked their Semi-Final places in the Ladies Singles. The match between Korean defender supreme – Kim Kyung Ah and the powerful Ding Ning (China) will long live in the memory. Quite simply Ding Ning threw everything she had at her opponent, but, Kim Kyung Ah – as focused and determined a competitor as you could wish to see retrieved most of it -no – make that all of it ! . The Chinese girl’s reverse serves which had caused Ai Fukuhara so many problems in the previous round had little effect here.  32 year-old Kim Kyung Ah ran out the winner of an absolutely enthralling game 11-6, 6-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7. The cheers the players received during this game said it all – a magnificent spectacle.

18 year-old Liu Shiwen, the top seed looked majestic as she beat no. five seed Jiang Hua jun (Hong Kong) , a player, remember with a proud record against Chinese opposition. It mattered for little here as the Chinese Wonder-girl, the Chinese National Champion in 2007, at 16 years of age powered through 11-8, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8.

Liu Shiwen will meet 23 year-old Feng Tianwei in her Semi-Final. The World no. seven from Singapore looked in trouble against Tie Yana (Hong Kong) when she lost the first end 11-3 and trailed in the second end. The game turned when Feng Tianwei won the second game. This gave her the boost she needed. She won 3-11, 11-9, 110-9, 11-9, 11-4.

Second seed Guo Yan is the other Semi-Finalist. Currently ranked no. five in the World and having been as high as number two she must be one of the unluckiest players in the history of the Sport. To make the Chinese National team she has to keep the likes of Zhang Yining, Guo Yue, Li Xiaxiao. Liu Shiwen (and before she retired) Wang Nan, at bay. Guo Yan who has won four Pro Tour Ladies titles surely deserves success here. She progressed by beating World no. ten Wang Yue Gu (Singapore) 11-8, 11-8, 15-17, 11-8, 11-8.

Image: Kim Kyung Ah, courtesy tabletennisphotos.com

Steve Kerns