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Liu Guoliang Upset in US Open Table Tennis
Fourth-ranked Liu Guoliang of China became the victim of fatigue when he was beaten by 30th-ranked Iseki Seiko of Japan in the second round of the ITTF US Open professional tour here on Thursday.
The Olympic and world champion, who arrived in the Southern American city late Tuesday, was toppled in his opener after a first-round bye 11-21, 21-17, 19-21 and 20-22 by Iseki, a former member of the Chinese national squad.
"It's a surprise but still reasonable as Liu was currently off his peak both physically and technically," said Cai Zhenhua, head coach of the Chinese team.
Cai explained that the whole Chinese delegation were refrained from sleeping yesterday in order to beat the time zone after a 27- hour flight.
"Therefore, many a players failed to display their full powers as they were weak in their legs as they started the competition Thursday afternoon," the Chinese coach said.
Of the six Chinese men paddlers, none of them disposed their opponents in straight sets, with both Yan Sen and Ma Lin being extracted to full sets before sailing to the third round.
Top-ranked Kong Linghui lost the first set 18-21 before sweeping three sets in a row for his slot in the last 16. The Chinese shakehander defeated Yoo Seung Min of South Korea 18-21, 21-15, 21-12 and 21-16.
The 23rd-ranked Yan Shen was even clawed back two sets after winning the first two before managing a narrow victory in the decider against Toshio Tasaki. Yan prevailed the 33rd-ranked Japanese 21-13, 21-12, 15-21, 18-21 and 21-17.
Second-ranked Wang Liqin also squandered his first set 20-22 before beating Adrian Crisan of Romania 21-18, 21-10 and 21-17, fifth-ranked Ma Lin of China beat Muneaki Mitamura of Japan 20-22, 21-9, 19-21, 21-5 and 21-16, and Liu Guozheng defeated matthew Syed of England 21-18, 13-21, 21-15 and 21-17.
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