$92,000 U.S. Open 
& ITTF Pro Tour

Fort Lauderdale, Florida • July 3-8, 2001

ITTF Pro Tour

The International Table Tennis Federation Pro Tour is a series of Open International Championships, held around the World, at which players accumulate points to qualify for the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals at the end of the calendar year. The ITTF Pro Tour debuted in 1996 and has quickly become an international arena for top table tennis players from around the world. They have highlighted Olympic and World Champions since their inauguration, and have quickly grown in importance in the International Table Tennis Community.

This year’s ITTF Pro Tour at the U.S. Open will be one of the premier events in the world, with a total of $92,000 in prize money being given out in the Pro Tour and U.S. Open events. 17 men and 14 women ranked in the top 50 in the world will be among the 949 players competing: 187 in the Pro Tour, and 762 in the U.S. Open events only. Here’s a preview of the top five men and top five women in the tournament - all ranked in the top 20 in the World.

Photos: Liu Guoliang, Jorg Rosskopf and Ryu Ji Hye copyright 2001 by Diego Schaaf; Chiang Peng-Lung, Werner Schlager, Jean-Michelle Saive and Csilla Batorfi copyright 2001 by John Oros; Xia Lian Ni and Krisztina Toth copyright 2001 by canupnet.com.

TOP FIVE MEN

Chiang Peng-Lung (TPE)

Current World Ranking: 4

Highest World Ranking: 3 (11/2000)

Age: 24

Best Results

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 2001 Qatar Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles & Doubles, 2000 Asian Championships

·        1st, Men’s Singles & Doubles, 2000 French Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 2nd, Men’s Singles, 2000 Croatian Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, Doubles & Teams, 1999 U.S. Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1999 Czech Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1999 Qatar Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1999 German Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1996 World University Games

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1995 Brazil Open

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 2001 Croatian Open

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 2000 U.S. Open

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1999 Brazil Open

·        Semifinals, Men’s Singles & Doubles, 2001 World Championships

·        Semifinals, Men’s Singles, 1995 U.S. Open

Liu Guozheng (CHN)

Current World Ranking: 4

Highest World Ranking: 4

Age: 21

Best Results

·        1st, Men’s Teams, Quarterfinals, Men’s Singles & Doubles, 2001 World Championships

·        1st, Men’s Singles & Doubles, 2000 Poland Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles & Doubles, 2000 Swedish Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1999 China Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1999 ITTF Pro Tour Finals

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 2000 World University Games

·        1st, Under 22 Singles, 1997 Global Youth Championships

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 2000 ITTF Pro Tour Finals

Werner Schlager (AUT)

Current World Ranking: 10

Highest World Ranking: 4 (2/2000)

Age: 28

Best Results

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 2000 European Top Twelve

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 2000 Denmark Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1999 Australian Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1999 Czech Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1998 Croatian Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1997 Poland Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1996 U.S. Open

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1996 English Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles & Doubles, 1996 Australian Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1995 Polish Open

·        Semifinals, Men’s Singles &  Doubles, 2000 U.S. Open

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 2000 Denmark Open

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1999 Croatian Open

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1999 World Cup

·        6-time Austrian Men’s Singles Champion (1995-present)

Jean-Michel Saive (BEL)

Current World Ranking: 12

Highest World Ranking: 1 (8 times, 1994-1996)

Age: 31

Best Results

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1999 Brazil Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles & Doubles, 1998 U.S. Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1997 English Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1993 China Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1991 Polish Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1989 U.S. Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1988 & 1986 Irish Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1994 European Top Twelve

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1994 European Championships

·        2nd, Men’s Teams, 2001 World Championships

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1999 Czech Open

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1997 Malaysian Open

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1996 European Top Twelve

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1994 World Cup

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1993 World Championships

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1992 European Championships

·        Semifinals, Men’s Singles, 2001, 1998, 1995 & 1993 European Top Twelve

·        Semifinals, Men’s Singles, 2000, 1996, 1991 & 1989 World Cup

·        12-time Belgium Men’s Singles Champion

Jörg Rosskopf (GER)

Current World Ranking: 15

Highest World Ranking: 4 (8/1992, 11/1995)

Age: 32

Best Results

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1998 World Cup

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1998 European Championships

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1997, 1995 & 1993 European Master’s Cup

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1997 Austrian Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1994 & 1988 Italian Open

·        1st, Men’s Singles, 1992 European Championships

·        1st, Men’s Doubles, 1989 World Championships

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1995 World Cup

·        2nd, Men’s Singles, 1992 European Top Twelve

·        Silver Medal, Men’s Doubles, 1992 Olympics

·        Bronze Medal, Men’s Singles, 1996 Olympics

·        8-time German Men’s Singles Champion

TOP FIVE WOMEN

Zhang Yining (CHN)

Current World Ranking: 3

Highest World Ranking: 3

Age: 19

Best Results

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1998 Asian Championships

·        1st, Women’s Singles & Doubles, 2000 Polish Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 2000 Swedish Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 2000 Pro Tour Finals

·        1st, Women’s Singles & Doubles, 1998 Malaysian Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1998 Italian Open

·        2nd, Women’s Singles, 1999 World Championships

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles & Doubles, 2001 World Championships

Ryu Ji Hye (KOR)

Current World Ranking: 8

Highest World Ranking: 6 (4 times in 2000)

Age: 25

Best Results

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 2nd, Women’s Singles, 1997 U.S. Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles & Doubles, 1997 Brazil Open

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1997 Japan Open

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1997 China Open

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1997 Austrian Open

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 3rd-4th, Women’s Singles, 1996 Japan Open

·        1st, Junior Girl’s Singles, 1993 Global Youth Championships

·        2nd, Women’s Doubles, 1998 Asian Championships

·        Bronze Medal, Women’s Doubles, 1996 Olympics

·        Bronze Medal, Women’s Doubles, 2000 Olympics

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1999 World Championships

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles & Doubles, 1998 Asian Games

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1998 World Cup

·        Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles, 2000 U.S. Open

·        Final 16, Women’s Singles, 2001 World Championships

Xia Lian Ni (LUX)

Current World Ranking: 15

Highest World Ranking: 4 (twice in 1998)

Age: 38 (on July 4)

Best Results

·        1st, Women’s Singles & Doubles, 1999 U.S. Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1998 U.S. Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1998 European Championships

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1998, 1997 & 1996 European Top Twelve

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 2nd, Women’s Singles, 1997 Polish Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1996 & 1993 German Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1995 & 1993 Polish Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1995 Bulgarian Open

·        1st, Women’s Teams, 1983 World Championships

·        1st, Women’s Teams & Mixed Doubles, Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles, 1983 World Championships

·        2nd, Women’s Singles, 2001 European Top Twelve

·        2nd, Women’s Singles, 1999 Qatar Open

·        2nd, Women’s Singles, 1984 & 1985 Asian Cup

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1999 & 2000 European Top Twelve

·        Semifinals, Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles, 1985 World Championships

·        Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles, 2000 U.S. Open

·        Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles, 2000, 1998 & 1996 World Cup

·        Final 16, Women’s Singles, 2001 World Championships

Csilla Batorfi (HUN)

Current World Ranking: 16

Highest World Ranking: 7 (1986)

Age: 32

Best Results

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 2001, 1992 & 1987 European Top Twelve

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 2000, 1994, 1990 & 1988 European Championships

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1999 Qatar Open

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1999 German Open

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1998 Croatian Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1993 Swedish Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1993 Austrian Open

·        1st, Women’s Teams, 2nd, Women’s Singles & Doubles, 1993 U.S. Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1992 U.S. Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1992 European Master’s Cup

·        1st, Women’s Singles, 1990 Italian Open

·        1st, Women’s Singles & Teams, 1986 European Championships

·        2nd, Women’s Singles, 1996 & 1989 European Top Twelve

·        Semifinals, Women’s Doubles, 2000 Olympics

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1997 Austrian Open

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1997 Swedish Open

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1996 French Open

·        Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles, 1998, 1994, 1992 & 1990 European Championships

·        3-time Hungarian Women’s Singles Champion

Krisztina Toth (HUN)

Current World Ranking: 19

Highest World Ranking: 13 (1/2001)

Age: 27

Best Results

·        1st, Women’s Doubles & Teams, 2000 European Championships

·        1st, Women’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles, 1994 European Championships

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1999 Qatar Open

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1999 German Open

·        1st, Women’s Doubles, 1998 Croatian Open

·        1st, Women’s Teams, 2nd, Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles, 1993 U.S. Open

·        1st, Junior Girl’s Singles, 1991 European Youth Championships

·        2nd, Women’s Singles, 2000 Croatian Open

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1999 German Cup

·        Semifinals, Women’s Doubles, 2000 Olympics

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1999 Czech Open

·        Semifinals, Women’s Singles, 1997 Japan Open

·        Semifinals, Women’s Doubles, 1995 World Championships

·        Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles & Doubles, 1998 European Championships

·        Quarterfinals, Women’s Singles, 2001, 2000 & 1997 Europe Top Twelve

·        Final 16, Women’s Singles, 2001 World Championships

·        6-time Hungarian Women’s Singles Champion, 1995 to present.

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