Taiwan’s top men’s table tennis player Lin Yun-ju yesterday advanced to his first Grand Smash men’s singles final after defeating Sweden’s Truls Moregard in six games at the WTT Singapore Smash.
Nicknamed the “silent assassin,” Lin won 11-7, 14-12, 12-10, 5-11, 7-11, 11-8 in the semi-final.
The 24-year-old world No. 8 had previously faced the world No. 5, also 24, six times in WTT competitions, holding a 5-1 record, with his only loss coming in the quarter-finals of the WTT Finals in Hong Kong last year.
Photo: CNA
Lin entered yesterday’s match in excellent form, having already secured the 100th win of his career in the quarter-finals of the WTT Singapore Smash.
In the opening game, Lin excelled in mid-to-long rallies, winning 11-7.
He controlled serve returns effectively in the closely contested second game. When it reached deuce, he dug deep to win the next two points and take the game 14-12, for a two-game-to-nil lead.
In the third game, Lin trailed 2-5 after a series of early errors, but responded with five consecutive points to take the lead. After four ties and a time-out by Moregard, Lin won another close game 12-10 to take a 3-0 lead in games.
With no margin for error, Moregard changed tactics in the next two games, reducing power on his returns and alternating pace to disrupt Lin’s play, successfully pulling back two games.
Lin adjusted in the sixth game, using two backhand flips on serve returns and an edge ball to build a 7-3 lead.
Although Moregard rallied to win five consecutive points and briefly move ahead 8-7, Lin leveled with a strong forehand, capitalized on an error and followed with his trademark backhand flip to secure three match points at 10-7, before sealing victory 11-8.
Lin was to play in the men’s singles final after press time last night against either China’s Wang Chuqin or France’s Felix Lebrun.
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