China claims two doubles titles, Xiang denies Calderano at WTT China Smash

BEIJING -- Chinese paddlers captured both women's and men's doubles titles, while Xiang Peng sent the home crowd into a frenzy after beating Brazilian ace Hugo Calderano in a thrilling seven-game men's singles quarterfinal at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash on Saturday.

Top-ranked Chinese pair Wang Manyu and Kuai Man overcame Hina Hayata of Japan and South Korea's Joo Cheon-hui 3-1 to claim the women's doubles title.

Wang and Kuai, reigning world champions and winners of this year's WTT Singapore Smash, found themselves on the back foot with an 11-6 loss in the opening game.

The Chinese duo made quick adjustments, triumphing 11-8 to level the score before saving four game points in the third game to take a 13-11 win.

The two pairs went toe to toe in the fourth, drawing level at 10-10. Wang and Kuai held their nerve to snatch two points in a row to secure the title.

"Honestly, I didn't play quite well and conceded many unforced errors today," Kuai admitted. "Manyu kept encouraging me to execute my attacks. After rallying for a win in the third game, my conditions got better in the fourth."

"Despite winning the title, we have a lot to summarize. As a pair, when one player does not feel well, the other one needs to step up," Wang said.

In an all-Chinese men's doubles final, Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong emerged victorious 11-8, 13-11, 11-7 over Zhou Qihao and Chen Junsong.

"This is our second time to have played together in a WTT Grand Smash event. Compared to last time, our communication and understanding on the doubles event have improved," Wang explained.

China also secured the women's singles title after Wang Manyu defeated Shin Yu-bin of South Korea 4-1 (12-10, 7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-7).

"I was able to stay focused and patient when I trailed," Wang reflected.

She set up the title showdown with top-ranked Sun Yingsha, who eliminated fellow Chinese Chen Xingtong 4-2 (12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9).

"We are quite familiar with each other and the levels of our play are very close. I was more patient on clutch points and for the last two games, my mentality remained stable," Sun remarked.

Facing World Cup winner Calderano, who is tipped as the biggest threat to Team China on the men's part, ninth-ranked Xiang showcased his resolve throughout the match.

After losing the first game 11-3, the host player took the next two games 11-3, 11-7. Third seed Calderano showed his class afterwards, prevailing 11-6, 11-8 to move one game away from victory.

But amid the rapturous applause from the crowd, Xiang was not done working his way back, winning 11-7, 11-6 to achieve a resounding comeback.

"In terms of execution and mentality, I did well today," Xiang said. "I had a firm belief in the win and tried to show a young player's morale and vitality."

Xiang's semifinal opponent will be world No. 1 Wang Chuqin, who sent Japan's Sora Matsushima packing with a 4-1 (11-7, 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7) victory.

The other semifinal pits second seed Lin Shidong against seventh-seeded Frenchman Felix Lebrun.

The WTT China Smash will conclude on Sunday, with the women's and men's singles finals scheduled for the evening session.