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2001 U.S. Nationals & U.S. Team Trials
Las Vegas, Nevada • December 18-23, 2001

Meet the Contenders!

Profiled are all ten members of the 2001 U.S. National Team, plus former National Singles Champions, in order of seeding

MEN 

Cheng Yinghua

• Hometown:                   Germantown, MD

• Age:                             43

• Rating/Seeding:             2770

• Playing Style:                Two-winged shakehand looper and blocker

  • Three-time U.S. Men’s Singles Champion

  • Two-time Men’s Doubles Champion

  • Three-time Mixed Doubles Champion

  • 2000 Nationals Men’s Singles Finalist

  • 1985 & 1993 U.S. Open Men’s Singles Champion

  • #1 ranked player in U.S. almost continuously, 1988-1998

  • Member of Chinese National Team, 1977-87 

David Zhuang

• Hometown:                   North Brunswick, NJ

• Age:                             38

• Rating/Seeding:             2649

• Playing Style:                Close to the table pips-out penhold blocker/hitter                  

  • 2000 U.S. Men's Singles & Doubles Champion

  • Four-time U.S. Men’s Singles Champion

  • Five-time U.S. Men’s Doubles Champion

  • Six-time U.S. Mixed Doubles Champion

  • 1999 Pan Am Gold Medalist, Men’s Singles and Teams

  • Member, 1996 & 2000 USA Olympic Team

  • Member, U.S. National Team (finished 1st)

Eric Owens

• Hometown:                   Houston, TX

• Age:                             26

• Rating/Seeding:             2638

• Playing Style:                Two-winged shakehand looper with emphasis on forehand

  • 1999 Pan Am Gold Medalist, Men’s Teams

  • Member, U.S. National Team

  • Semifinalist, Men’s Singles, 1999-2000 U.S. Nationals

  • 1998 Men’s Doubles National Champion

Jim Butler

• Hometown:                   Houston, TX

• Age:                             30

• Rating/Seeding:             2594

• Playing Style:                Shakehander with looping forehand and spectacular backhand smash

  • Three-time U.S. Men’s Singles Champion

  • 1992 & 1996 U.S. Olympic Team Member

  • 1995 Pan Ams Bronze Medalist, Men’s Singles

Mark Hazinski

• Hometown:                   Mishawaka, IN

• Age:                             16

• Rating/Seeding:             2569

• Playing Style:                Two-winged shakehand looper

  • Member, U.S. National Team (finished 2nd)

  • 2001 Junior Nationals Under 22 & Under 18 Men’s Singles Champion

  • 2001 Junior Olympics Under 18 Boys’ Singles Champion 

Sean O’Neill

• Hometown:                   Charlottesville, VA

• Age:                             34

• Rating/Seeding:             2458

• Playing Style:                Formerly forehand power looper but in recent years playing more backhand

  • Five-time U.S. Men’s Singles Champion

  • Five-time U.S. Men’s Doubles Champion

  • Five-time U.S. Mixed Doubles Champion

  • Member, 1992 & 1996 U.S. Olympic Team

  • 2000 U.S. National Over 30 Champion

Barney J. Reed

• Hometown:                   New York, NY

• Age:                             23

• Rating/Seeding:             2453

• Playing Style:                Two-winged shakehand looper

  • Member, U.S. National Team

  • 1998 Men’s Doubles National Champion

  • 2000 Nationals Men’s Singles Quarterfinalist

Ashu Jain

• Hometown:                   Edison, NJ

• Age:                             21

• Rating/Seeding:             2440

• Playing Style:                All-around shakehand looper

  • Member, U.S. National Team

  • 2000 National Under 22 Men’s Singles Champion

  • 2000 Collegiate Men’s Singles Champion

  • 2000 U.S. Under 2600 Champion

WOMEN

Chang Jun Gao

• Hometown:                   Gaithersburg, MD

• Age:                             32

• Rating/Seeding:             2611

• Playing Style:                Pips-out penholder blocker/pick hitter, known for her ball control

  • 1996-2000 U.S. Women’s Singles & Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion

  • 1999 Pan Am Gold Medalist, Women’s Singles and Teams

  • 1993 World Champion, Women’s Doubles & Teams

  • 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist, Women’s Doubles

  • 1994 U.S. Open Women’s Singles Champion

  • Member of U.S. National Team since 1996

  • Former member of Chinese National Team

  • Formerly ranked #3 in the World; Currently ranked #33

Jasna Reed

• Hometown:                   Chicago, IL

• Age:                             29

• Rating/Seeding:             2497

• Playing Style:                Two-winged shakehand looper

  • This will be her first year of eligibility

  • 1988 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Women’s Doubles

  • 1991 & 1993 U.S. Open Women’s Singles Semifinalist

  • 1992 European Women’s Doubles Champion

  • 1988 European Mixed Doubles Champion

  • Member of U.S. Team since 2000

  • Member of Yugoslavian Team, 1986-1995

Tawny Banh

• Hometown:                   Alhambra, CA

• Age:                             27

• Rating/Seeding:             2471

• Playing Style:                Shakehander with looping forehand, pips-out hitting backhand

  • 1998-2000 Women’s Singles & Doubles Finalist

  • 1999 Pan Am Gold Medalist, Women’s Teams

  • Member of U.S. National Team since 1995

  • Member of 2000 U.S. Olympic Team

Virginia Sung

• Hometown:                   New York, NY

• Age:                             25

• Rating/Seeding:             2398

• Playing Style:                Chopper with inverted & short pips with good attack

  • Member, U.S. National Team

  • 1998 & 2000 Nationals Women’s Singles Semifinalist

  • 1998 Women’s Doubles National Champion

Simone Yang

• Hometown:                   Portland, OR

• Age:                             39

• Rating/Seeding:             2333

• Playing Style:                Steady shakehands blocker

  • Member, U.S. National Team

  • 2000 Women's Doubles Finalist

  • 1999-2000 Women's Singles Quarterfinalist

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