2006 US Open HomepageJuly 5-8 Charlotte, NC[Charlotte Weather]
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US Open Men’s Singles Quarter-finals
Friday, July 07, 2006, 7 pm
Spectator’s Delight!
A large crowd got to see four very exciting and well-played quarterfinal matches. Eight players with eight very different playing styles made for a “Spectator’s Delight”.
Pradeeban Peter-Paul (CAN) vs Sharath Kamal Achanta (IND)
This was a match up of two members of their respective national teams. Both players play a very wide ranging, physical, all-round attacking game. The result was a display of every type of shot, even some off-the-floor, long range chops by Kamal. In the end, Kamal had a little more forehand power and a great reverse forehand serve, and that made the difference in the match. Despite some great topspin rallies, Kamal overpowers Peter-Paul in straight games, 8,7,6,8. Many in the audience are beginning to feel that Kamal may be able to win the title.
Aleksandar Karakasevic (YUG) vs Stefan Feth (GER)
Both of these players compete a lot in the US and both are very popular with the crowd. The first game tells the story of the whole match. It quickly becomes a battle of Feth’s short game and 3rd ball attack against the more powerful strokes of Karakasevic. Stefan seems to be in real trouble once a counter-looping rally takes place as Karakasevic over-powers him time and time again. The key to this match for Stefan was to keep the score close. He was able to do this is the first and third games and Karakasevic played a little tighter not opening with full power. When Stefan lost the third game after having three game points, Karakasevic relaxed and opened-up with amazing shots in the forth. Match to Karakasevic 9, 4, 12, 8. It is clear that Karakasevic is playing very well and is very focused on regaining the title he held in 2003.
Soumy Adeep Roy (IND) vs Thomas Keinath (GER)
This would be the upset of the round and perhaps the tournament as India’s Roy defeated the #2 seeded Keinath. In the early stages of the match, Roy had the edge in forehand to forehand loop rallies while Thomas was winning many points with his opening backhand loop. The first game was tight all the way with Keinath making a couple of errors at the end to lose 11-9. The second game was all Roy’s as he began to hit through Thomas’s backhand loops and kept winning the forehand loop exchanges. He won the game 11-5 to take a 2-0 lead. Game three saw a complete reversal of fortune with Keinath finding his range and Roy becoming visibly frustrated. Game three to Keinath at 11-5. Game four was a strange game. Both players looked nervous and made a number of errors. However, Roy made fewer and won at 11-5. Game five finds Keinath back in form and scoring again with strong backhand loops. Game to Thomas at 11-5. Game six was tight all the way with neither player having more than a two point lead. At 9-all, Keinath missed his trademark backhand loop and then Roy hit in a brave forehand loop third-ball attack to take the game and match, 11-9.
Kostadin Lengerov (AUT) vs Wilson Peng Zhang (CAN)
This was to be the best played match of the quarter-finals. From the outset, it was a battle of Lengerov’s power and great backhand loop-off the bounce against the quickness and shot making of Zhang. In the first game, Lengerov looked like he might not be able to deal with the quickness of Zhang. Wilson was almost always the first to attack and won the game easily at 11-6. At the beginning of the second game, Lengerov came out determined to loop first and took more risks on the serve return. He also scored many points with backhand loops down the line. Game to Lengerov 11-4. Lengerov continued game three right where he left off the previous game. Scoring over and over again with amazing backhand counter-loops off Wilson’s strong opening loops, he ran out the game at 11-5. At this point, it looked like Lengerov might have Wilson’s number. However, Wilson had other ideas. At the start of game, Wilson took his game and speed to another level and again time pressured Lengerov into making errors. Game four to Wilson at 11-7. With the games tied at 2-2, game five would prove to be the pivotal game. From the beginning of the game, both players were fighting hard to open first. Neither player could gain more than a one point lead and the score reached 10-all. A great short serve gave Wilson a 11-10 lead and then Lengerov missed a routine forehand loop. Game to Wilson at 12-10. After pulling out that close game, Wilson was not to be deigned, and quickly ran out game six 11-3 to take the match. Both players received a great ovation for their outstanding play.
Semi-final Showdown!
The stage is set for the semi-finals tomorrow at 5pm.
Aleksandar Karakasevic vs Sharath Ramal Achanta
Karakasevic is the highest ranked player in the event at World #44. He is known as a brilliant shot-maker who when on his game can defeat anyone. His opponent, Achanta is India’s #1 and is coming off a great last couple of months. He recently won the Men’s Singles Title at the Commonwealth Games and in the last month reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals of ITTF Pro-Tour Events. Both player have been impressive so far and this is shaping up to be a real battle.
Wilson Zhang vs Soumy Adeep Roy
Can Roy pull-off upset #2? Wilson is sure to have other ideas. Both players are quick and have shown great heart. This should be a real entertaining match.
More Results to Come!
Women's Round of Eight
by Dave Fullen
In a city with a major parkway named for Billy Graham, it's easy to find religion in Charlotte. For me, this week anyway, I'm feeling the spirit of women's singles moving on the corner of College and East 3rd, as the 16 have become the chosen eight, on their journey to become the Anointed One.
Wang Chen, Judy Hugh, Whitney Ping, Poulomi Ghatak, Lily Yip, Fabiola Ramos, Nan Li and Mo Zhang meet tonight beginning at 6:45 and 7:30 to continue the quest.
Some highlights along the way:
Wang Chen/Atha Fong
Wang Chen had little trouble with Fong, winning 3, 8, 3, 3. Chen, rated 2604, is the top seed in Womenís Singles. She ís world #57, but was once ranked #4. Atha Fong is an up and coming player from California, and is a member of the 2006 U.S. National Girls Junior Team.
Judy Hugh/Marina Shumakova
Judy Hugh's unflappable attitude and consistently effective looping game makes her tough to beat. She dropped on game to Shumakova, the #1 player in Kazakhstan, ranked world 450 (Shumakova has moved up more than 100 places in last four months). Match to Hugh: 6, 8, 7, -7, 6.
Whitney Ping/Barbara Wei
Whitney Ping, world 407, North American #12 likes mid-distance playing. She was a member of the 2004 US Olympic Team and currently plays for Stanford University. Barbara Wei was U.S. #2 Under 16 Girls, #3 Under 18 Girls and a member of the USA Cadet Team, 2002-2004. Ping won the match: 11, 6, 4, 4.
Brana Vlasic/Poulomi Ghatak
Poulomi Ghatak is World 207 with a rating of 2134. Brana Vlasic is USATT July/Aug 2006 #1 U-16 Girls, 2006 San Diego Open Juniors and U-22 Women's Runner-up. Vlasic gave Ghatak a tough match with strong loops on both wings, but Ghatak responded in kind, winning 6, -7, 2, 7, -9, 4.
LilyYip/Bella Livshin
Lily Yip has been a member of the US National team for most of the past fifteen years and is a two-time Olympian.
Bella Livshin from California was no match for Lily's fast-blocking/quick hitting style, losing: 7,4,5,3.
Qi Tang/Fabiola Ramos
Qi Tang has been a surprise in this Open. Rated 1932 from Canada, she's played consistently well. She continued that play against Fabiola Ramos, taking Ramos to 7 games with big forehand loops.
Fabiola Ramos is the #1 woman from Venezuela. One web page states: "However, against Fabiola Ramos you are always under pressure; the Venezuelan makes few mistakes, the control she exerts is superb, she is experienced; she knows when to spin the ball and when to play fast."
Ramos and Tang trade games 1-4, splitting them two apiece. Then Tang goes ahead to take game 5. Ramos takes the next two, winning game 7, 11-3.
Nan Li/Charlene Liu
Nan Li had little trouble with Charlene Liu, a 2097 player from Maryland. Liu is no shrinking violet, but Nan Li is rated 2433 and has a wealth of championship experience as a junior, and a Chinese world champion lineage from both parents.
Match to Li: 3, 2, 8, 5.
Kyna Fong/Mo Zhang
Kyna Fong is rated 2147 from California. She put up a good fight, but couldn't match Mo Zhang's quick and powerful loops. Zhang is the 2006 TMS Canada Cup #1 - Women's Singles Champion, and was rated 2419 at age 17.
Match to Zhang: 6, 3, 6, 2.
The women play again tonight at 6:45 and 7:30 to whittle down to 4.
First Family Females Win Women's Doubles in Five
by Dave Fullen
A few months ago I wrote about the first family in American table tennis. Today the female half of the Yip/Dattell/Hugh family prevailed over India in five games to win Women's Doubles at this year's US Open.
The Indian team of Poulomi Ghatak and Kasturi Chakroborty were no match for mom Lily Yip and daughter Judy Hugh.
Early in game 1 Lily would quick block to set up Judy's loop. Ghatak of India had one good kill, but Yip/Hugh led
all the way to win game 1, 11-8
In game 2 Lily started looping. At 6-5 (Yip/Hugh) Lily said, "Let's control them" then proceeded to give up the next point. Ghatak ripped a forehand to pull India away at 8-7. Hugh looped and Ghatak missed the counter loop to go
behind 8-9, but tied it up at 9 and pulled away 10-9 when Lily netted a serve. India finally won when Judy Hugh
missed a loop. Game 2 to India, 13-11.
In game 3, down 7-5 Yip/Hugh went on a tear. Lily had four winners in a row, then put the game away at 11-7.
Game 4 begins with Ghatak ripping a forehand. Lily and Judy combine for a double winner - Lily pounces first, then
Judy puts away a weak return to lead 7-3. Hugh loops a backhand down the line to make it 9-4. A Yip winner makes it
10-4. Ghatak tries to mount a comeback to pull to 5, but it's Yip/Hugh, 11-6.
Match and title to Lily Yip and Judy Hugh: 8, -11, 7, 6.
It's India Over Guatemala in Women's Doubles - Next Up USA
by Dave Fullen
It was closer than it looks on paper. The women's team from Guatemala took the team from India to deuce in the first three games. Edelwais Chajchalac and Andrea Estrada led by as much as 8-4 in game 1 and 9-4 in game 3, but each time it got to deuce India's team of Poulomi Ghatak and Kasturi Chakroborty would reach into their bag of tricks and pull out a streak of points. Finally, in game 4 India had enough of deuce games and finished the match 11-3. After the match I asked Poulomi Ghatak if the match was ever in doubt. She said, "We went 4-0. That's all that matters."
Guatemala was much more impressive than the 2300-rating point gap suggested, but in the end Poulomi Ghatak's ripping backhand and forehand sealed the deal India meets the American mother-daughter team of Lily Yip and Judy Hugh in the final, scheduled by 4:30 today. India over Guatemala: 11, 10, 10, 3.
US Open Men’s Singles – 8’s
Friday, July 07, 2006 – 1pm
By: Richard McAfee
Play is Heating Up in Charlotte!
With all the top 16 players competing against each other, this round was very competitive. For the first time the spectators were able to see the top seeded players going all out and displaying true World-class skills.
Alekandar Karakasevic (YUG) vs Subhajit Saha (IND)
The number #1 seeded Karakasevic started off like he would make quick work of Saha, taking the first three games at 8,7,9. He was able to absorb the quick attacks of Saha and score at will with strong backhand crosscourt loops. Perhaps it was a little too easy, at he went a little too soft and lost the next two games at -4,-9. Great players have the ability to raise their levels and Karakasevic is a great player. In game six, he completely shut out Saha by tightening his serve and receive game and opening with very strong loops. The final point was won with a beautiful inside-out, down the line forehand loop. Game and match to Alekandar 11-3.
Photo By Tom Nguyen - North American Table Tennis
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Stefan Feth (GER) vs Shen Qiang (CAN)
Qiang is the top junior in North America and made a number of amazing shots this match. However, he never really could get started against the strong short game of Feth and his strong opening loops. Stefan played a technically perfect match and won in straight games 8,7,6,6.
Photo By Tom Nguyen - North American Table Tennis
Pradeeban Peter-Paul (CAN) vs Omar Flores (GUA)
This was an entertaining match between two athletes that reloop from every corner of the court. There were lots of great looping rallies but Peter-Paul won most of them and the match at 9,1,8,8.
Sasa Drinic (USA) vs Sharath Kamal Achanta (IND)
Sasa is a very experienced and tough opponent but Kamal simply had more power than Sasa could handle. Sasa could work his way into the points well, but time and time again, Kamal’s power took its tool. Match in straight games to Achanta, 8,5,5,6. Kamal has been on a roll the last couple of months, winning the Commonwealth Games and reaching the semifinals and quarterfinals of the last two ITTF Pro-Tour Events.
Photo By Tom Nguyen - North American Table Tennis
Kostadin Lengerov (AUT) vs Jens Lang (GER)
Both Lang and Lengerov are typical European Loopers with good serves and strong attacks from both sides. Lengerov is very experience at the World Level but has been hampered this year with knee problems. However, he showed no signs of injury as he dominated his opponent from the backhand side and won in straight games, 5,7,13,12.
Wilson Peng Zhang (CAN) vs Eric Owens (USA)
Wilson is the #1 rated Canadian Play and showed why this match. He blends power and quickness together into a very dynamic style of play. Eric, who just graduated from college looked both a little rusty and a step slow this match. However, it is not in Eric’s personally not to fight hard to the end. Match to Wilson, 2,4,8,8.
Soumy Adeep Roy (IND) vs David Jiachen Wang (USA)
Roy, who is a member of India’s National Team, plays a quick over the table backhand counter and strong forehand loop game. While David was able to take one game, Roy was simply better in every department of the game. Match to Roy, 7,5,6,-9,8.
Thomas Keinath (GER) vs Jose Miquel Ramirez-Martin (GUA)
The best description that one can give of Keinath’s game is that he is a never-ending looping machine. Thomas just keeps coming at his opponent not only with strong topspins from both sides but also with the great heart of a champion. Jose fought well but Thomas had two many weapons. Math to Keinath, 6,9,7,-3,10.
We are now down to the final 8 players and the Quarter-Finals will start at 4pm. today.
Quarter-Final Match-ups:
Karakasevic vs Feth
Peter-Paul vs Achanta
Lengerov vs Zhang
Roy vs Keinath
MORE TO COME!!!!!
US OPEN MEN’S SINGLES
First Round Main Draw Matches
Thursday, July 06, 2006, 5pm.
By: Richard McAfee
As one might expect, most of the first round matches ran true to form. There were no upsets within the seeded players. However, there were a number of interesting and crowd pleasing matches. The largest upset of the round had to be Joseph Wang Jr., (2081) MD, upset of A.J. Brewer, (2303) IN in a tight match, -5, 6, -13, 7, 14, 8. The crowd really enjoyed the outstanding level of play shown between these two top US Junior Prospects. On the other end of the age spectrum, many time World and European Veterans Champion, Herbert Neubauer, took down Lester Sanjay (2312) GUA. If the name sound familiar, Neubauer is the inventor of the long-pip rubber that bears his name. Finally, our own Richard Lee, Tournament Director of the US Open, played a very entertaining match against John Nilsson. Richard showed he can still play at a high level by winning the first game and playing very close games throughout.
Second Round Main Draw Matches
Thursday, July 06, 2006, 7 pm.
The second round matches again provided no major upsets and we are now left with 8 interesting match-ups.
Play will continue tomorrow at 12 pm.
Final 8 matches
Aleksandar Karakasevic (YUG) vs Subhajit (IND)
Shen Qiang (CAN) vs Stefan Feth (GER)
Pradeeban Peter-Paul (CAN) vs Omar Flores (GUA)
Sasa Drinic (USA) vs Ramal Sharath Achanta (IND)
Kostadin Lengerov (AUT) vs Jens Lang (GER)
Eric Owens (USA) vs Wilson Peng Zhang (CAN)
Soumy Adeep Roy (IND) vs Jiachen David Wang (USA)
Jose Miguel Ramirez-Martin(GUA) vs Thomas Keinath (GER)
Women Whittle to 16
By Dave Fullen
With the Round of 32 complete, 16 players advance to the Round of 16 which starts at 2:15 Friday. Before the Round of 32, sharp eyes at the Control Desk caught the three matches that would have been rematches from the qualifying round and redrew the draw.
Due to a possible eye injury, Canada's #2 player Judy Long withdrew from Women's singles. This allowed Lily Yip to advance unchallenged. There were no upsets except for Atha Fong - 1962 (CA) over Nancy Paulin - 2033 (Quebec).
This was an exciting, hard-fought match that drew a crowd. Nancy Paulin ran into the kind of hornet's nest that British General Cornwallis did during the Revolutionary War. After being driven out by citizens' fierce opposition to British occupation during the American Revolution, Cornwallis wrote that Charlotte was a ìhornet's nest of rebellion". In the same way, and on Charlotte turf, Atha Fong defended American soil in seven games.
Paulin went up 2-0 with her quick blocking, backhand hitting style. Fong picked up games three and four with her spinny loops usually overcoming Paulin's backhand around the third hit. The two traded games five and six, with game six ending in Atha's favor, 15-13. In the end Paulin surrendered, 11-7.
Match to Atha Fong who meets Wang Chen at 2:15 tomorrow (talk about a hornet's nest): -10,-8,8,3,-9,13,7.
Other notable matches include Atha's sister Kyna Fong over Kasturi Chakroborty of India in five games: 9,-8,4,8,5; Brana Vlasic (CA) over Nancy Paulin's sister Cynthia (Quebec) in five: -5,9,10,4,8; and Maria Jose Solares (Guatemala) putting up a passionate effort but losing to Charlene Liu (MD) in five: -10,4,5,10,8.
Women's Doubles Round of Eight
By Dave Fullen
The fiesty twin Solares sisters from Guatemala weren't a match for the mother-daughter team of Lily Yip and Judy Hugh. Both teams had breathtaking put-away shots, and it looked like the Solares sisters might be gaining momentum. But at 11-11 in the 4th game a yellow card directed toward their coach for something I couldn't hear distracted them. Match to Yip/Hugh: 7,5,5,11.
The Indian team of Poulomi Ghatak and Kasturi Chakroborty advanced after defeating the New York team of Elin Posner and Andrea Braunfield. With a rating differential of about 1300 points, the team from India had little trouble advancing.
Andrea Estrada and Edelwais Chajchalac of Guatemala advanced through default.
If India makes it through the Estrada/Chajchalac team at 1:3o Friday, it will set up an exciting final between the Indian team and the Yip/Hugh team at 4:30 Friday.
US Open Men’s Singles
Preliminary Round Robin Results
Wednesday July 5, 2006, 12pm.
By: Richard McAfee,
The Men’s qualifying round robins are now finished. Twenty-four groups fought it out with the winners of each group advancing to the main draw of Men’s Open Singles.
While most of the groups went true to form, there were some interesting developments. First of all, a number of un-rated foreign players are making an early mark on the event. John Nilsson and Jonas Nordin, both unrated from Sweden, showed excellent form to advance. Nordin defeated Joseph Cochran (2284) IN to finish first in his group and Nilsson defeated one of the top juniors in the US, James Earl Alto (2212) CA to wrap up his group. Yang, Ling-Kun (2309), a very good looking player from Canada won his group to advance but not without a struggle from Daniel Seemiller Jr. (2033) IN. Another foreign unrated player, Cordova Valencia Santiago (ECU) defeated US Junior Team Member, John Leach CO in a real nail-bitter, 11-9 in the seventh game. Finally, I must note that long-time Senior Player, Jim McQueen (2074) NC, former President of the USATT, scored a major upset to win his group, taking down the current US Over 50 Champion, Jiri Hlava (2284) MA.
Matches in the Main Draw will start tomorrow at noon. Please check back for more reporting on the US Open Men’s Singles Event.
Women Advance to Round of 32
by Dave Fullen
July 5, 2006 6:30
Twenty-nine women advanced from the Qualifier to the Round of 32, which begins at 3PM Thursday. Since 29 is less than 32 (the draw dwindled through attrition), three women drew byes: Wang Chen, Poulomi Ghatak and Mo Zhang.
A notable match will be between Brana Vlasic (CA) and Marie Alejandra Solares (Guatemala). The closely fought qualifier match between Vlasic and Solares went to six games: 4,16,-7,4,-7,8.
2006 U.S. Open
Men’s Singles
By: Richard McAfee,
Tuesday 7/4 – 6:00 pm
The Stage is Set!
The first thing that grabs you when you walk into the Charlotte Convention Center, is that this is one of the finest venues to host the U.S. Open in several years. Eighty-six well space tables, await play that begins at 9 am tomorrow morning. The Men’s Singles preliminary round robin gets under way at noon.
While this year’s U.S. Open is not a part of the ITTF Pro-Tour there are a number of high level players entered and with a wide-open field, play should be very interesting. Both Canada and India have sent their National Team Members. Add to that National Team Members from Germany, Austria, and Yugoslavia and you have be sure that play will be exciting.
The Men’s Draw will be made at an open Jury Meeting at 7 pm. For now, let me give you the TOP TEN MEN:
| 1 | Aleksander Karakasevic | Yugoslavia | World #44 |
| 2 | Thomas Keinath | Germany | World #72 |
| 3 | Kostadin Lengerov | Austria | World #114 |
| 4 | Sharath Achanta | India | World #124 |
| 5 | Wilson Zhang | Canada | World #142 |
| 6 | Stefan Feth | Germany | World #191 |
| 7 | Soumy Adeep Roy | India | World #222 |
| 8 | Peter-Paul Pradeeban | Canada | World #304 |
| 9 | Subhajit Saha | India | World #322 |
| 10 | Eric Owens | USA | World #352 |
Women's Singles Getting Underway
by Dave Fullen
It's Wednesday morning here in the Queen City of Charlotte, NC (a moniker shared with Cincinnati, Ohio), home of American Idol Clay Aiken, evangelist Billy Graham and NAscar driver Jeff Gordon. The Women's Singles Qualifier gets started at noon. The top eight women - Wang Chen, Marina Shumakova, Whitney Ping, Poulami Ghatak, Lily Yip, Fabiola Ramos, Nan Li and Mo Zhang have byes. Twenty-six other players will compete in 8 round robins for 24 slots to advance to the round of 32, which gets underway Thursday at 3. The lucky 24 will receive notice by 4PM today (along with the unlucky two).
The remaining schedule:
Round of 16, Friday at 2:15PM
Quarterfinals, Friday at 6:45PM
Semifinals, Saturday at 12:45PM
Final, Saturday at 6:30.
