Fan Zhendong of China celebrates after winning the final match against Timo Boll of Germany at the 2018 ITTF Men's World Cup in Chessy, France on Oct. 21, 2018. Fan Zhendong won 4-1 and claimed the title. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Chinese paddler Fan Zhendong relived his title-winning memory two years ago to claim his second ITTF Men's World Cup title after powering past German veteran Timo Boll in five games on Sunday.
Fan, the world No. 1, comfortably sailed to an 11-9, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8 victory over the 37-year-old Boll.
"If you had told me that I could win in five games before the final, I would have been quite happy about that," said Fan.
Fan came back from one game down to beat fellow Chinese Lin Gaoyuan in the semifinals, while Boll got past another German Dimitrij Ovtcharov in six games.
Despite trailing 0-3 into the final duel, Fan regrouped himself to take five points in a row to turn the tides. The 2016 winner triumphed 11-9 in the opening game.
Sixteen years younger than his opponent, Fan fully displayed his speed in the match, and that was added by his precise winners. Fan was one game away from the title after winning the following two games 11-5 and 11-6.
Then the match underwent turbulence as Boll improved his hitting quality to pull one game back at 11-9.
Fan was 5-1 down in the fifth, before nailing seven consecutive points to build an 8-5 advantage. He sealed the win at 11-8.
"When I led 3-0 in the match, Boll was set to have the last try. It was normal that I met some problems late in the fourth game and early in the fifth," Fan pointed out, adding that he became more and more confident with matches underway during the tournament.
Earlier on Sunday, Lin tasted the bronze after overcoming Ovtcharov 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, making one step further from his quarterfinal appearance last year in Belgian city of Liege.
"Actually I was a bit down after losing the semi-final, but then I made quick adjustment with the third place up for grabs," said Lin.
