World No. 1 Ding Ning outlasted No. 3 Zhu Yuling in seven games to reach the women's table tennis final at the Chinese national games here on Wednesday.
This semifinal between reigning world champion Ding and Zhu is just as heavyweight as the final and the two players presented an intensive and competitive all square contest.
Ding is quicker to find her form into the match, having the first game under her belt 11-6, but Zhu answered with a 11-8 victory in her favor in the second game. The third game was in a tight progression as the points rose neck and neck, drawing eight times from 2-2 to 9-9 before Ding nailed the last two points to a 11-9 win.
Zhu had clutched the fourth game with ease, leading 7-1 on her way to an comfortable 11-4 triumph. Ding scored all the first four points in the fifth game and led 5-1 half way before Zhu launched a 7-1 surge to overtake Ding by 8-6 and rallied back to grab another game in 11-7.
Ding maintained an edge all through the sixth to wrap up the game 11-8 and extended her control in the decisive seventh to lead 10-6 before Zhu saved three match points in a row, but a hasty backhand in taking on Ding's serve saw the ball off the court, allowing Ding a 11-9 win and a place in the final.
Ding said she nearly missed the match for getting up late in the morning, so she had to adjust herself gradually to fit into the match. "I played the doubles last night and went to bed too late. If it's not for my coach who woke me up this morning, I could have missed the match," said Ding, who won the bronze medal in women's doubles on Tuesday.
"My coach told me to believe myself and play the match in my own style. That helps me calm down and play with confidence and composure when I was trailing behind," added Ding, who will play Liu Shiwen as the world No. 4 eased past Wang Yidi 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7 and 11-8.
