Day 3 In the Books as New Champions Crowned
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by Joshua Dyke
Men's Doubles 2022 U.S. Open Champions Lei Kou & Ye Tian in the championship finals match held at the Ontario Convention Center. Ontario, California.
The third day of the 2022 U.S. Open was filled with excitement as many of the open doubles started to head into the final rounds, including the Men’s and Women’s Doubles Open championships.
As events rolled out, the matches moved into the quarter, semi, and final rounds of the open championships. There was a sense of urgency in the matches that were underway. Play between opponents was getting sharper, and the execution of clean strokes was all the more significant.
U21 Boys' Singles 2022 U.S. Open Champion Angel Naranjo playing in the championship finals match held at the Ontario Convention Center. Ontario, California.
One of the early finals featuring Puerto Rico taking the center stage in the U21 Boys’ singles final was a particularly impressive sight to behold. Jabdiel Torres (19) and Angel Naranjo (18) squared off in the championship match. The sheer power of Naranjo’s forehand and backhand strokes was the key to his success in downing his training partner, Torres.
Naranjo has been coming to the U.S. to compete since he was nine, his first event as a junior at Joola Teams. He has continued to progress as a player as he moves up in world rankings, making him a formidable foe for those entering the U.S. Open in singles and doubles events.
U21 Girls' Singles 2022 U.S. Open Champion Rachel Sung in the championship finals match held at the Ontario Convention Center. Ontario, California.
Amy Wang and Rachel Sung headlined the U21 Girls’ Singles final without delay in action of means. It was a tight back-and-forth matchup pinning two of the most elite young women to grace the court in the United States.
Taking the match to game seven, the U.S. National Teammates kept pace with one another throughout the match. Sung managed to outpace Wang in game seven for the victory in the championship finals match.
The Men’s Doubles Finals spared subtly and sprang into the excitement off the jump. The match featured some of the top players in the United States. Kou Lei and Ye Tian were up against Wenzhang Tao and Xiang Zhang. The matchups were a shake-up from the previous 2021 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada, with new teams in the finals. Kou Lei and Ye Tian took the 3-1 victory (6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 14-12) in four games.
It was evident Kou and Tian were on the same page playing every point like it was their last. Of course, the main goal is to win the match, but first, I have to really concentrate on every single ball and every single point” said new Open Doubles Champions Lei Kou. Kou and Tian were sharp and synchronized as they adjusted after game one and were able to hold momentum through their next three games to take home gold in Open Men's Doubles.
Women's Doubles 2022 U.S. Open Champions Rachel Sung & Lily Zhang playing the championship finals held at the Ontario Convention Center. Ontario, California.
The Women’s Doubles Finals were not without fireworks on display as player and player faced. Though falling in game one, Sung and Zhang came storming back into the game, catching their stride and bringing the game to deuce.
The finals match continued to keep spectators on the edge of their seats. Sung and Zhang won two straight games yet dropped game four to set up a game five doubles championship. Zhang and Sung were able to fend off the onslaught from (12-14, 12-10, 11-5, 11-13, 11-8) to take game five, the match, and the 2022 U.S. Open Women's Doubles title.
70+ Mixed Doubles 2022 U.S. Open Champions Connie & Dell Sweeris playing in the championship match at the Ontario Convention Center. Ontario, California.
The 70+ Mixed Doubles Final featured a star-studded cast of USA Table Tennis Hall of Famers. David and Donna Sakai versus Connie and Dell Sweeris rounded out the sides. This year, the Sweeris' put together a swift victory for gold against longtime friendly rivals in the Sakais'.
40+ Mixed Doubles 2022 U.S. Open Champions Lily Yip & Yuxiang Li in the championship finals match at the Ontario Convention Center. Ontario, California.
40+ Mixed Doubles pinned Lily Yip and Yuxiang Li up against Guo Hui Lu and Gina Dole. The games remained close through the final match for the experienced pairs. Taking game four, the title was secured by the former 2x U.S. Olympian Lily Yip and her partner Yuxiang Li in three games to one.
See all Posted Results from the 2022 U.S. Open Table Table Tennis Championships
