Singapore Smash 2023: Fan Zhendong triumphant; Sun Yingsha completes hat-trick of titles - Finals results
World number one Fan beat Ma Long 4-1 to successfully defend his men's singles title. Earlier, 22-year-old top-ranked Chinese paddler Sun defeated Qian Tianyi 4-1 in the women's singles final to complete a title hat-trick.
Table Tennis
Defending champion Fan Zhendong retained his Singapore Smash men's table tennis singles title by beating Ma Long 4-1 (11-5, 13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9) on Sunday (19 March).
Having been eliminated from WTT Star Contender Goa last week in the opening round, world number one Fan had something of a point to prove heading to the first Grand Smash of the year, and a rematch of last year's final proved to be the perfect stage for his redemption.
Saving four match points in the second game (13-11) to go 2-0 up, early momentum looked to be with Fan. But in the third game, the five-time Olympic champion Ma promptly responded, taking the game to settle things at 2-1.
Like in the second game, Ma appeared in charge after the early exchanges but a 7-4 lead was cut back to 8-8, before Fan found another gear in the game's dying stages to game and a 3-1 lead.
The fifth game mostly followed a point-by-point pattern until, at 9-9, Fan surged for the final time to take the game and the match victory.
Fan's successful singles title defence marks the second crown he has managed to reclaim at this year's Singapore Smash. Earlier in the week, Fan won the men's doubles title alongside partner Wang Chuqin. The pair defeated Republic of Korea's Zhang Yuzhen/Lin Zhongxun 3-1.
Earlier in the day, Sun Yingsha defeated Qian Tianyi 4-1 (11-7, 10-12, 13-11, 11-6, 11-7) to take home the women's singles title.
The head-to-head between the Chinese compatriots before the game was 4-4, providing the perfect backdrop to a thrilling final.
Sitting one apiece after the opening two games of the final, the third proved decisive in the momentum of the match.
Twice the 22-year-old Sun overturned a scoreline deficit to force the game to deuce before then delivering to consecutive backhand winners to take the game 13-11 from tournament wildcard Qian.
It proved the perfect springboard for world number one Sun who won the following games 11-6, 11-7 to take the women's singles crown.
Victory for Sun in the women's singles rounds off an impressive week for the top-ranked paddler who walks away from the Singapore Sports Hub with a historic hat-trick of titles after winning the women's doubles and mixed doubles competitions earlier in the week.