WTT Women's Singles Semifinalists Revealed: Two Spots for China, Wang Manyu Falls 3-4 to Han Ying, Chen Xingtong’s Next Opponent Confirmed

On January 11th Beijing time, the WTT Doha Champions women's singles quarterfinals ended with four Chinese players vying for the semifinals, finishing with two wins and two losses. Only Kuai Man and Chen Xingtong reached the last four. Kuai Man dominated Japanese youngster Miyu Nagasaki 4-1, while Chen Xingtong pulled off a thrilling 4-3 victory over strong opponent Miwa Harimoto. Thus, the semifinal matchups are confirmed: Zhu Yuling faces Han Ying, and Chen Xingtong meets Kuai Man in a fierce derby battle!

China’s five female players all reached the round of 16 in this event. However, in the round of 16, rising star Chen Yi was upset 2-3 by 42-year-old defensive specialist Han Ying. The other four players advanced to the quarterfinals aiming to secure all semifinal spots. Reality proved harsh as Wang Yidi and Wang Manyu were both surprisingly defeated early, wiping out China’s presence in the top half. Wang Yidi’s 2-4 loss to Zhu Yuling was expected, but Wang Manyu’s defeat by 42-year-old Han Ying was truly unexpected!

Wang Manyu is ranked second in the world and, with Sun Yingsha absent, was considered the top favorite to win this tournament. However, in the quarterfinals against 42-year-old veteran Han Ying, a defensive player, Wang Manyu made tactical errors and played with impatience, often trying to finish points too quickly. Her forehand lacked power, making it difficult to handle the defensive style, resulting in increased mistakes. Although she leveled the score three times to push the match to a deciding game, she ultimately collapsed in the final set, losing 3-4 in an upset. Nevertheless, the match was highly entertaining, showcasing a thrilling attack-versus-defense duel. Despite Wang Manyu’s injury, it cannot be used as an excuse; defeat is defeat and lessons must be learned. Meanwhile, Han Ying’s consecutive wins over Chen Yi and Wang Manyu at age 42 are truly admirable!

Chen Xingtong faced Miwa Harimoto, a strong rival. Although Chen fell behind 0-2 early on, she quickly found ways to suppress her opponent’s offense and then won three consecutive games. Despite Harimoto’s resilience in forcing a deciding game, Chen’s superior skills allowed her to narrowly clinch the final set 4-3, completing a remarkable comeback and securing a semifinal spot for China!

Chen Xingtong’s next opponent is Kuai Man, setting up a derby clash that guarantees one Chinese player a place in the final. Whether China can take the championship remains uncertain, and the pressure is immense—let’s wait and see!

Written by/Titan Sports Fiction