Seeds Shine in Montpellier as Wang, Kim and Franziska Book Last 16 Spots
The WTT Champions Montpellier kicked off with some eye-catching performances as the third-seeded competitor from the Chinese mainland, Wang Yidi, sailed into the round of 16. South Korea’s Kim and Germany’s Franziska also stamped their tickets to the last 16 with impressive wins.
Wang Yidi faced Japan’s Hina Hayata in a high-paced showdown, prevailing 3-1 (14-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6). After taking the first game in a nail-biting 14-12 finish, Wang leaned on a fast start in the second and third games, pulling ahead early to control the rallies. In the fourth, she weathered a brief fightback to close out the match.
“I took the lead at the start of every game, but I rushed when I was ahead,” Wang reflected. “My coach called a time-out to remind me to slow down. Once I adjusted the rhythm, I performed much better from the second to the fourth games.”
With victories in events like the WTT US Grand Smash and Champions Incheon already under her belt this season, Wang looks primed for another deep run. Meanwhile, Kim and Franziska will bring their own momentum into the next round, setting up what promises to be a thrilling last 16 lineup.
Stay tuned as the world’s top table tennis stars battle it out in Montpellier, with spots in the quarterfinals up for grabs.
Reference(s):
Wang, Kim, Franziska reach last 16 at WTT Champions Montpellier
cgtn.com
