2022 WTT Singapore Grand Slam, Women's Singles Semifinals: Wang Yidi vs Chen Meng
Chen Meng is 28 years old and ranked second in the world; Wang Yidi is 25 years old, ranking fifth in the world.
Previously, the two sides had met 5 times in the international arena, and Chen Meng had 4 wins and 1 win, which was obviously superior. But the most recent confrontation was won by Wang Yidi.
In the first set, Wang Yidi started very hard, making 3 consecutive mistakes; Chen Meng broke through from Wang Yidi's forehand position and scored 2 more points, starting strongly at 5-0.
Wang Yidi's pick Chen Meng can prevent the turn of the head, the state is very good, continue to score points, 10-1 to get the set point.
Wang Yidi stole a long ball and got 1 point. Chen Mengfa long ball, the two sides more shots, and then chased a round point. In the end, Chen Meng 11-3 went to the next city first.
However, at the end of the game, Wang Yidi gradually found a little bit of his own state, and I believe that he will play better and better next.
In the second set, Wang Yidi's state rebounded, but there were still many mistakes in the forehand attack, and the two sides started 2-2.
Chen Meng scored with a series of lucky balls to surpass the score 4-2.
Chen Meng grabbed his own serve wheel, and the serve rush tactic worked, leading 6-2.
Wang Yidi held his eyes on Chen Meng's backhand and chased the position, scoring 3 points in a row to chase the score to 6-7.
Chen Meng is still in control of the first three boards, causing Wang Yidi to return the ball out of bounds and hold the lead at 91.
After Wang Yidi served, the backhand bounced off the net, and Chen Meng won the set point 10-8.
The two sides held each other backhand, Chen Meng returned the ball out of bounds, and Wang Yidi recovered a set point. Chen Meng took the initiative to throw another point, and the two sides drew 10-10.
Wang Yidi lost his own serve wheel, and Chen Meng won the set point for the third time 11-10.
Chen Meng served to rush the attack, Wang Yidi blocked, 11-11.
Chen Meng's forehand pulled Wang Yidi's forehand position to score from a large angle, and he won the set point for the fourth time 12-11.
Chen Meng served and scored, and finally won the game 13-11 with difficulty, leading 2:0.
In the third set, Chen Meng still grasped the initiative and led 3-1. Wang Yidi Wang Yidi did not give up and quickly chased to a 3-3 draw. The two sides then fought until 5-5.
Chen Meng made successive mistakes, and Wang Yidi made 7-5 to surpass the score.
Chen Meng was always a little relaxed, this round did not use the forehand much, it was all carried by the backhand and Wang Yidi. Wang Yidi led 9-6.
After being chased to 9-8, Wang Yidi asked for a timeout.
Chen Meng hesitated, the tactics from the serve to the return were not clear, Wang Yidi scored with a forehand attack, and won the set point 10-8. In the end, 11-9 pulled back a set, and the two sides fought 1:2.
In the fourth set, Chen Meng received the ball back to Wang Yidi's forehand position, and Wang Yidi continuously picked out the boundary, which made Wang Yidi a little helpless. Chen Meng seized the opportunity and quickly pulled away the score to lead 5-0.
Chen Meng 7-1, 9-2, continued to expand the lead.
Chen Meng held 7 innings 10-3. Chen Meng served the ball to Wang Yidi's backhand in the small triangle, and then scored with a forehand dunk to win another set 11-4, leading 3:1.
Wang Yidi's forehand small triangle was caught, and the whole game was relatively passive and lost quickly.
In the fifth set, Wang Yidi was violently picky, and Chen Meng could prevent his turn, which showed how good Chen Meng was in a good state, and he was 4-1 ahead.
Wang Yidi's forehand attack gradually found its form, 9-5 to win the score.
Chen Meng still broke through the small triangle of Wang Yidi's forehand to chase the score to 9-9.
After Chen Meng received the serve and ventured high, Wang Yidi scored a dunk and won the set point 10-9. Unfortunately, Wang Yidi used this move again, slammed the ball out of bounds, and the two sides fought 10-10.
Wang Yidi scored consistently and won the second set point 11-10. Chen Meng's forehand attack was wrong, and Wang Yidi won the game 12-10 with difficulty, falling behind 2:3.
In the sixth set, the two sides held each other with their backhands, and Chen Meng laughed at the end, 1-0. Chen Meng took the ball off the net, 1-1.
Chen Meng grabbed his own serve wheel, and the short ball + multi-shot in the table held each other, scoring 2 consecutive points and leading 3-1.
Wang Yidi's forehand short ball was still not handled well, and Chen Meng "lost power" from time to time, and both sides failed to pull the score, 5-5, 6-6.
Wang Yidi scored three consecutive points to win the score 9-7.
Wang Yidi served out, Chen Meng received the serve and directly started to attack and score, 8-9.
Wang Yidi won 2 sets 10-8 and won another set 11-8 to make the score 3:3.
Chen Meng started well every time, but there was always a situation of "wandering" in the game, and the tactics were not clear; while Wang Yidi was getting better and better with the progress of the game, his mentality was also very stable, and he would not lose confidence because of a few points behind.
In the decider, Chen Meng started 2-0, then received a mistake and drew 2-2.
Wang Yidi received the serve and twisted the mistake, and Chen Meng took the lead again 4-2.
Wang Yidi moved his forehand left and right, but Chen Meng withdrew from the stage but resisted, which was too wonderful. Chen Meng led 5-2, and the two sides exchanged venues.
Chen Meng still grasped the weakness of Wang Yidi's small triangle in the forehand position, scoring consecutive points and leading 7-3.
Wang Yidi chased 5-7, and Chen Meng asked for a timeout.
Chen dreamed of taking the initiative to attack, but the effect was not ideal, there were many mistakes, and the point difference was reduced to 1 point, 8-7, 9-8, and every point was crucial.
Chen Meng served to score, 10-8 to get 2 match points, and finally won the last set 11-8, the big score was 4:3 win, there was no danger to advance to the women's singles final, congratulations to her. At the same time, Wang Yidi did not give up after the score, and in the case of 1:3 behind, dragged the game into the decider and achieved a wonderful game.
As Chen Meng said in the post-match interview, last year's WTT World Cup finals, but also the semi-finals and Wang Yidi played to the decider, but also 8-4 lead, the last time I lost this time to win, it is not easy.
Chen Meng's technology is more comprehensive, normal play, and it is very normal to win Wang Yidi. But in the case of Chen Meng's lead, the "old problem" of mental instability has not been fundamentally solved, even if she is already an Olympic champion. Zhou Yu also commented that she was leading in the third set, making the same mistake many times in the innings, losing 7 points in a row, otherwise she could win within five sets.
I still hope that Chen Meng can continue to make progress!