February 19, 2010
Qatar Open: Korean Optimism Endorsed Emphatically
 The dynamic Seo Hyun Deok who ended the hopes of Xu Xin Photo By: Adel Hakouz |
Courtesy of ITTF At the Qatar Open in Doha on Friday February 19, 2010, that fact was further underlined and underlined in emphatic style. |
In the opening round of the Men’s Singles event, 18-year-old Seo Hyun Deok caused the biggest upset of the round; in five games he beat China’s Xu Xin.
In Form Player
Xu Xin has very much been the player to catch the eye in the past 12 months, left handed, penhold grip using both sides of the racket, his forehand is lethal, his sideways movement faster than a cheetah honing in on its prey.
He has shot up the world rankings; one year ago when competing in the Qatar Open he stood at no.71; now he occupies the no.15 place.
Table Turned
One year ago he was the player to cause the upset in Qatar.
In the second round of the Men’s Singles event he beat compatriot and doubles partner, Ma Long in seven games. On the adjacent table one year later he received a taste of his own medicine, he was the victim of a shock result.
Seo Hyun Deok stands at no.132 on the current ITTF Men’s World Rankings and in Qatar had to negotiate the qualification stages.
Confidence Injection
A fine win for Seo Hyun Deok and a massive confidence booster; the win has to some extent laid the ghosts of the 2009 Polish Open to rest.
In the final of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event in Warsaw, he led Xu Xin’s compatriot Shang Kun 10-2 in the seventh game; he didn’t win another point. He lost 10 in a row. It was a nightmare.
Keep Quiet
In Doha, he had clearly learnt from the horror.
He won the first three games following the policy of England’s Desmond Douglas, like Seo Hyun Deok, a left-hander. “I’m going to keep him quiet”, were often the words uttered by the sincere Englishman.
Focus on Backhand
Basically Desmond Douglas was saying I’m going to keep the ball in his backhand, stop him playing his forehand and then when I say him run around his backhand I’ll switch to the forehand.
The tactic left many an adversary stunned, few players, if any, have ever possessed the quite incredible anticipation skills of Desmond Douglas.
Seo Hyun Deok kept Xu Xin quiet in Douglas mode, he was not the equal in the anticipation department but when he switched, he switched with aggression; furthermore, whenever possible he unleashed a lightning forehand.
Time Out
In the fifth game Seo Hyun Deok led 9-6, Qin Zhijian, himself a left handed penholder but in the more tradition style using one side of the racket only, called “Time Out”.
The break was to no avail, Seo Hyun Deok with razor sharp precision and gazelle like speed unleashed a faster than the speed of light forehand wide to the Xu Xin forehand. The Chinese star now famed for has quick sideways movement was left flat footed.
Match Point
It was match point; surely the ghost of Poland would not return. The first match was saved but not the second. Seo Hyun Deok was victorious.
Defeat for Xu Xin but not for his highly rated colleague who occupy the top four seeded places.
Top Eight Seeds Win
Ma Long, Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin all came through the opening round successfully as did the next four in line.
It was a successful first round experience for Japan’s Jun Mizutani, Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk, China Zhang Jike and Germany’s Dimitrj Ovtcharov.
| Download the latest Flash Player to view content. |