Wang Manyu books return to WTT Champions final
23 April 2023
Wang Manyu has booked her place in the final of the Women's Singles at WTT Champions Macao 2023 with a 4-2 (7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-4) win over Wang Yidi.
Going in Manyu led the head-to-head 3:1, but the initial advantage went the way of the lower seed.
FOLLOW EVENT ACTION
Wang Yidi was looking for her third WTT Champions finals appearance and her first win in the tier. Only just last week she fell in the final at WTT Champions Xinxiang to Sun Yingsha and was out to get a second bite at the cherry in Macao.
Tonight against Manyu, the World No.3 was sharper from the get-go. Her attacks, just clearing the net, outpaced the 2nd seed from the initial exchanges. First blood went the way of Yidi.
But as the match progress the momentum went the way of the reigning World champion.
Wang Manyu's arc made life difficult for Yidi. The timing and spin caused problems for the challenger to deal with as the ball casted a domineering path over the net. Manyu edged out her opponent and posted three games in succession.
A fightback came in game five, but it was too little too late. With the score at 3-2, Manyu served with both mission and purpose. Losing just one point on her own service game, the 2nd seed made sure the match finished to the script, taking the final game 11-4 to book her place in the final.
With one match remaining, Wang Manyu feels her play is getting better and better here in Macao.
"I think the overall performance was good today, I was very focused throughout the match. The second set was very important for me to win. I was 3-0 up but was chased by five points in a row, I told myself to calm down and take it slow. Yesterday I played against Qian Tianyi, and she was so strong, and that really got me going, and I feel like now I'm 70 or 80 percent fit and I'm in the final, and I hope I can enjoy it." Wang Manyu
With the podium in sight, Wang will be breathing a sigh of relief. She has reserved a place in her first final in 273 days. Wang's last appearance in a WTT Series final was in Budapest at WTT Champions ESS 2022. The outcome of that final? The title in the hands of Wang.
Wang Manyu will be up against the winner of Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng in tomorrow's Women's Singles final.