In the women's doubles final of the 2024 Table Tennis WTT Saudi Arabia Grand Slam, the Chinese pair Chen Meng/Wang Manyu played perfectly and swept the world No. 1 South Korean pair Tian Zhixi/Shin Yubin with a total score of 3-0 to win the championship. This is the second championship of national table tennis in this tournament, once again showing the dominance of Chinese table tennis.
The game opens
As soon as the final began, Chen Meng/Wang Manyu took the lead with their precise curve ball play and quickly opened the lead. They came out on top 11-6 in the first game and laid a good foundation for the rest of the game. Although Tian Zhixi/Shin Yubin were not to be underestimated as the world No. 1 pair, they were unable to completely suppress their opponents' attacks in the opening stages.
After Chen Meng/Wang Manyu took the lead in the first game, they maintained their fighting spirits high in the second game. They went on a 6-0 run to quickly overtake the score and seal the win at 11-6. At this time, the aggregate score has come to 2-0 and is in the lead.
The middle game is stalemate
Entering the crucial third game, the two sides fell into a fierce tug-of-war. Tian Zhixi/Shin Yubin picked up the tempo and put pressure on Chen Meng/Wang Manyu by returning the ball from a wide angle. However, Chen Meng/Wang Manyu responded calmly and always firmly controlled the pace of the game.
The score of this game has been stalemate, the two sides have come and gone, and the atmosphere on the field is tense. By the time the score reached 8-10, the South Koreans had match point in hand. But at this critical moment, Chen Meng/Wang Manyu showed extraordinary on-the-spot adaptability and tenacious fighting spirit, saved several game points in a row, and finally won the championship 12-10.
Technology reigns
Throughout the match, the reason why Chen Meng/Wang Manyu were able to defeat the world No. 1 was largely due to their excellent individual skills. Although Tian Zhixi/Shen Yubin have a certain advantage in terms of tacit cooperation, Chen Meng/Wang Manyu's curve ball is of higher quality and the landing point change is also better, which makes them take the initiative on the offensive end.
Chen Meng/Wang Manyu had a stronger ability to control key points, and their opponents failed to seize their chances when they were leading 10-8, while they came back to win the championship by four points in a row when they were behind, fully demonstrating their tenacious mental quality. This is beyond the reach of Tian Zhixi/Shin Yubin.
The strength of national table tennis is highlighted
In this Saudi Arabia Grand Slam, the Chinese team won the championship in 5 events, once again proving the dominance of comprehensive strength. The outstanding performances of Chen Meng and Wang Manyu also increased their chances of qualifying for the Olympics.
After winning the Women's Doubles event, Chen Meng defeated Japan's Hina Hayada in the Women's Singles semi-finals, clearing the way for her to advance to the final and compete with Sun Yingsha for the title. If Chen Meng can defeat world No.1 Sun Yingsha in the final, she will qualify for the Olympic Women's Singles and will play alongside Wang Manyu.
The Chinese pair Chen Meng/Wang Manyu defeated the South Korean powerhouse in the women's doubles final of the Saudi Arabia Grand Slam to win the championship and add another championship to the national table tennis team. They defeated the world's No. 1 opponent with their excellent individual skills and on-the-spot adaptability, showing the world the dominance of Chinese table tennis. Their strong performances at the tournament have also increased their chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games.