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Padres' Tatis Jr. exits in 10th with hammy injury

Published in Baseball
Sunday, 28 April 2019 19:24

WASHINGTON -- San Diego rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. left Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals after he did an awkward-looking split while trying to stretch for a throw at second base.

Tatis was unable to keep his foot on the bag on the play. He moved around gingerly while umpires reviewed the play but could not continue.

Padres manager Andy Green said after the Padres' 7-6 11-inning loss that Tatis suffered a hamstring injury. Green said it was uncertain how much time, if any, Tatis Jr. would miss with his injury.

"I think everyone saw what happened on the field,'' Green said. "So we are hoping he is OK. We'll find out in time here. He seems in pretty good spirits right now. We'll find out how severe, how mild it is here very shortly.''

The 20-year-old entered the season as one of the top prospects in baseball. He is hitting .300 with six homers and 13 RBIs for the Padres. The son of former major leaguer Fernando Tatis had a career-high three hits on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Power Rankings: Big additions shake things up

Published in Baseball
Thursday, 25 April 2019 08:31

Another week into the season, we've seen No. 1 change hands yet again, as the Astros' claim to the top slot ends after only two weeks, with the Dodgers moving back on top after getting three first-place votes. The Astros received one of the other first-place votes, with the injury-wracked yet rising Yankees getting the other. The Yankees weren't the only new team in the top five, as the Cardinals also moved up into the crowded field at the top of the rankings.

Speaking of crowds, with so many teams at or near .500, this was a week where any slip or step forward yielded big gains or big declines among our voters. After getting into the top 10 in Week 3, the Pirates tumbled 10 spots after a rough week, and the Brewers similarly slipped out of the top 10 after taking a few knocks.

In their place the Cubs returned to the top 10 on the strength of some stronger starting pitching, while the Twins finally gained a spot among the higher-ups by continuing to make a case that the AL Central will be a two-team race after all. The Twins' nine-spot climb up the rankings was second only to the Diamondbacks making their own big move, climbing up to No. 11.

For Week 4, our panel of voters was composed of Bradford Doolittle, Christina Kahrl, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian and David Schoenfield.

Previous: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2019 record: 19-11
Week 3 ranking: 3

Cody Bellinger continued his April tear Sunday with his 14th home run, tying Christian Yelich for most in the majors -- which also ties Albert Pujols (2006) and Alex Rodriguez (2007) for most home runs before May 1. Bellinger is hitting an amazing .427/.500/.913 and his 36 RBIs have tied Juan Gonzalez and Mark McGwire (both 1998) for most before May 1. It has been one of the best Aprils we've ever seen. -- David Schoenfield


2. Houston Astros

2019 record: 17-11
Week 3 ranking: 1

Houston ranks 11th or better by bWAR at every position group, including DH and pinch hitters -- with one exception. The Astros' first basemen -- primarily Yuli Gurriel -- have put up below-replacement production so far. It would be scary what this Astros attack would look like with a bona fide, slugging first baseman, the kind of which the market has neglected the past couple of offseasons. -- Bradford Doolittle


3. Tampa Bay Rays

2019 record: 18-9
Week 3 ranking: 2

The Rays have been good at just about everything so far this season, and with their showing over the weekend at Fenway Park they've already shown that getting swept at home last week against the Red Sox was not a sign of imminent collapse. However, with Joey Wendle hitting the IL again, it's time for Willy Adames and Daniel Robertson to join the party. Robertson is hitting half a Mendoza with a .329 OPS against righties this season. -- Doolittle


4. St. Louis Cardinals

2019 record: 17-10
Week 3 ranking: 8

A sweep of the Brewers to begin the week earned the Cardinals a place atop the NL Central standings, with their bats continuing to lead the way. Paul Goldschmidt has been tearing the cover off the ball, batting .343 (12-for-35) with two homers during the team's just-completed nine-game homestand. -- Tristan Cockcroft


5. New York Yankees

2019 record: 17-11
Week 3 ranking: 6

After sweeping the Giants, the makeshift Yankees have won nine of 10 and own the second-best run differential in the majors behind the Rays. Luke Voit continues to get on base (.397 OBP and he has reached base every game this season), and Gary Sanchez came off the IL and homered Sunday -- his eighth in just 15 games. -- Schoenfield


6. Seattle Mariners

2019 record: 18-13
Week 3 ranking: 9

The Mariners beat the Rangers on Thursday and Friday, only to see the Rangers pound them 15-1 and 14-1 on Saturday and Sunday. Marco Gonzales won his start to become the majors' first five-game winner, but the defense continues to be a big issue. Tim Beckham has committed 10 errors at shortstop, the most of any player at any position, and Domingo Santana has been a train wreck in left field. His minus-9 defensive runs saved entering Sunday was the worst in the majors. -- Schoenfield


7. Minnesota Twins

2019 record: 16-9
Week 3 ranking: 16

The Michael Pineda success story has hit a few bumps of late, but he also has been a bit unlucky. A high BABIP has contributed to a 5.63 ERA, but his 4.24 FIP looks much better in comparison. It is not as if the Twins have a top pitching prospect knocking at the door. Pineda, who missed last season, should improve. -- Eric Karabell


8. Cleveland Indians

2019 record: 15-12
Week 3 ranking: 7

Francisco Lindor's return made an instant impact as he ripped three home runs while the Indians scored five of more runs in four of his first six starts. Lindor's presence coincided with revivified offense from Jose Ramirez, who clouted a pair of extra-base hits (a third of his season total), drew five walks and stole three bases. The Tribe's lineup isn't firing on all cylinders yet, but it's getting there. -- Christina Kahrl


9. Philadelphia Phillies

2019 record: 16-12
Week 3 ranking: 5

Getting shortstop Jean Segura and center fielder Odubel Herrera back from the injured list should aid an inconsistent offense that has not performed as expected so far. At least ace Aaron Nola is improving, after a four-start stretch sans a quality start. That 5.68 ERA should keep dropping this week. -- Karabell


10. Chicago Cubs

2019 record: 14-12
Week 3 ranking: 12

Addison Russell could return by the end of the week. Uprooting Javier Baez from shortstop seems dicey, but Russell would upgrade the middle infield overall defensively, since second base has been manned by Daniel Descalso, David Bote and Ben Zobrist. All salient statements about Russell's off-field troubles aside, adding a Gold Glove-caliber fielder can only help what has been an underperforming defensive unit. -- Doolittle


11. Arizona Diamondbacks

2019 record: 16-13
Week 3 ranking: 21

Arizona's hot streak -- a 10-3 run entering Sunday -- has been fueled by its pitching, posting a 2.95 ERA in that span. Diamondbacks relievers had a streak of 24 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run snapped Saturday by the Cubs, while Greg Holland (0.67 WHIP, 14 K's over nine scoreless innings) has been in vintage Royals form. -- Steve Richards


12. Milwaukee Brewers

2019 record: 15-14
Week 3 ranking: 4

Though the Brewers' offense has tasted great at Miller Park, the road output has been less than filling. Christian Yelich's surreal home-road splits exemplify that observation, but it has been a team-wide trait -- Milwaukee hitters rank second in home OPS versus 20th on the road. The pitchers haven't quite reversed that, though they do rank 18th in OPS allowed on the road versus 26th at home. A less homer-happy attack might make the Brew Crew offense a little more portable. -- Doolittle


13. Boston Red Sox

2019 record: 11-17
Week 3 ranking: 15

The upswing from last weekend's sweep of Tampa Bay was negated by a 2-4 week that included a two-game sweep by the Rays at Fenway. On the plus side, the Red Sox have gotten a boost from top prospect Michael Chavis, who has three home runs in 24 at-bats since being called up and filling in at second base. It will be interesting to see if he stays there when Brock Holt, Eduardo Nunez and/or Dustin Pedroia are healthy. -- Richards


14. New York Mets

2019 record: 14-13
Week 3 ranking: 11

The Mets can plug valuable Jeff McNeil into most every position and he keeps hitting. It is a bit surprising McNeil has yet to earn regular leadoff duties. He hits for average and makes contact, and Brandon Nimmo is, well, struggling to do those things. Meanwhile, Pete Alonso keeps hitting. -- Karabell


15. Atlanta Braves

2019 record: 13-14
Week 3 ranking: 14

How much has the bullpen struggled? Braves fans were chanting "We want Kimbrel" on Saturday night as the Rockies scored five runs in the ninth inning. The Braves acquired Jerry Blevins to add another lefty as the bullpen ranks 21st in the majors with a 4.64 ERA, has issued the second-most walks and has the worst strikeout-to-walk ratio. -- Schoenfield


16. San Diego Padres

2019 record: 16-12
Week 3 ranking: 18

Though the Padres' offense reached eight runs in a game for the first time Saturday, the pitching has kept them in games, including a week-opening three-game win streak. Closer Kirby Yates is on pace for a season for the ages, projecting for more than 70 saves and 125 strikeouts with a sub-1.00 ERA. -- Cockcroft


17. Washington Nationals

2019 record: 12-14
Week 3 ranking: 13

A never-before-seen feat Sunday: Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom each homered, the first time three players 21 and younger homered for the same team in one game. In fact, the last team with three players that young to homer in the same season was the 1993 Expos with Cliff Floyd, Rondell White and Wil Cordero. The Nationals won the game on Matt Adams' walk-off HR, but lost the series to the Padres -- and have lost three series in a row, to the Padres, Rockies and Marlins, teams you have to beat if you want to win the division. -- Schoenfield


18. Colorado Rockies

2019 record: 13-15
Week 3 ranking: 20

Would you believe the pitching staff has had much to do with the Rockies' recent hot spell, with wins in 10 of their past 13 games? It's not just German Marquez's doing, either. Jon Gray, whose 5.12 ERA was highest among regular Rockies starters in 2018, had strung together three straight quality starts before scuffling a bit Saturday against the Braves. -- Cockcroft


19. Oakland Athletics

2019 record: 14-16
Week 3 ranking: 17

The A's rotation ranks last in the league in strikeout rate, but the past week's worth of games saw some significant improvements on that score, with Oakland's starters striking out 36 in 34 IP, with recent addition Chris Bassitt providing much of the boost with 16 K's across 12 innings in his first two starts. That kind of performance could help him stick around. -- Kahrl


20. Pittsburgh Pirates

2019 record: 12-14
Week 3 ranking: 10

Despite the unexpectedly early return of Gregory Polanco from shoulder surgery this past Monday, the Pirates' offense wasn't able to put it together. From April 17-23, the team scored fewer than five runs in all eight games, and usual leadoff man Adam Frazier is in a 6-for-33 slump in his past nine contests. -- Cockcroft


21. Cincinnati Reds

2019 record: 11-16
Week 3 ranking: 25

The Reds picked up a couple of key wins against the Braves at home during the past week, during which time closer Raisel Iglesias looked a lot closer to his 2017-18 self. The right-hander has converted each of his past four save chances and struck out 11 batters in 5⅔ innings in his past five outings. -- Cockcroft


22. Toronto Blue Jays

2019 record: 13-14
Week 3 ranking: 23

The Jays are 3-0 in the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. era, although he hasn't had a ton to do with it (3-for-12; 1 walk; 3 strikeouts; no runs, RBIs or errors). Baby Vlad's arrival did bring some energy to Rogers Centre -- this weekend's three-game series drew 69,499, or about 10,000 more than Toronto's previous weekend series -- and that counts for something. -- Richards


23. Los Angeles Angels

2019 record: 12-17
Week 3 ranking: 22

The Angels probably regret the three-year contract bestowed upon former Reds shortstop Zack Cozart in December 2017. In a year plus a month, Cozart has hit .194 for the Angels and slugged .309 over 81 games, and he is back on the injured list because of a neck injury. Even if he were healthy, the Angels need more offense. -- Karabell


24. Texas Rangers

2019 record: 14-13
Week 3 ranking: 19

Just when it looked as if the Rangers' week was going to be a complete washout, they snapped a five-game losing streak with consecutive wins over Seattle by the scores of 15-1 and 14-1. Everything is bigger with Texas, including run totals. The Rangers have scored in double figures six times and given up at least 10 runs five times, with a pair of 11-10 wins part of the mix. -- Richards


25. Detroit Tigers

2019 record: 12-14
Week 3 ranking: 24

On Friday, Miguel Cabrera ended a homerless streak dating to last season across 161 plate appearances by jacking an opposite-field home run down the line in Chicago. Among 28 regular first basemen or DHs, Miggy's .726 OPS ranks 24th of 29; his .081 isolated slugging ranks last. At 466 home runs and counting on his career, 500 suddenly looks very far away. -- Kahrl


26. San Francisco Giants

2019 record: 11-17
Week 3 ranking: 27

There's something emblematic of the team's fortunes that Buster Posey and (rubs eyes) Pablo Sandoval are among the team's hitting leaders, just like it was 2010 and both were 23-year-old regulars in the lineup together for the first time. Unfortunately, Posey's not hitting nearly as well as he did then, but Sandoval's .909 OPS, mostly in a pinch-hitting role, might be enough to get Bruce Bochy to start thinking about sitting Evan Longoria now and again. -- Kahrl


27. Chicago White Sox

2019 record: 11-14
Week 3 ranking: 26

The crosstown Cubs focused their rebuilding plan around the development of position players. The White Sox have tried to straddle the fence between hitters and starters. This year's rotation features several possible long-term fits, like Reynaldo Lopez, Carlos Rodon and Lucas Giolito -- none of whom are rookies. Thus it is no small thing that the ChiSox rank last in the majors with a 6.31 rotation ERA. That's the key number for this team. -- Doolittle


28. Kansas City Royals

2019 record: 9-19
Week 3 ranking: 28

Royals first baseman Ryan O'Hearn slugged .705 against right-handers as a rookie. Nobody expected a repeat to that level, but fans, and hopefully the team, should be patient here. O'Hearn, who gets platooned versus left-handed pitching for good reason, has been unlucky. He has power and plate discipline. -- Karabell


29. Baltimore Orioles

2019 record: 10-19
Week 3 ranking: 29

The O's haven't been quite as atrocious as last year -- not that that's saying much -- but they have been giving up home runs at an alarming rate. Baltimore pitchers have yielded 71 homers, an amazing 20 more than any other team in baseball. This weekend's foe, the Twins, touched 'em all 12 times, a team record for a three-game series -- and one more than they hit last weekend at Baltimore. -- Richards


30. Miami Marlins

2019 record: 8-20
Week 3 ranking: 30

Want to accentuate the positive? Caleb Smith is second in the NL in strikeout rate for starting pitchers with 11.5 K/9, and the Marlins' bullpen is second in the majors in strikeout rate, notching 10.7 K/9. So that's something. Jorge Alfaro, Starlin Castro and Curtis Granderson all produced OPS marks north of .750 for the week. So, the situation isn't entirely bleak, it's just still not great. -- Kahrl

Rafael Nadal's hopes of extending his own record by winning an ATP tournament for the 12th time were ended when he was beaten by Dominic Thiem in the Barcelona Open semi-finals.

Nadal has triumphed in Barcelona 11 times, a mark he has also hit at the French Open and Monte Carlo Masters.

But his hopes of adding to his record ended in a 6-4 6-4 loss to Thiem, who he beat in the 2017 Barcelona final.

The Austrian will meet 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's final.

Had Nadal won against Thiem he would have had the opportunity to match Martina Navratilova's professional tournament record of winning 12 times at the now-defunct Avon Championships of Chicago.

The 32-year-old had appeared on course to win the Barcelona Open for the fourth time in succession - he went into the match having won 46 of the 47 sets he had played in the tournament's final two rounds.

Instead 25-year-old Thiem, who lost to Nadal in a one-sided French Open final last year, will have the opportunity to win a second title of the year having beaten Roger Federer in the final at Indian Wells last month.

Russian Medvedev beat fourth seed Kei Nishikori 6-4 3-6 7-5 in their semi-final on Saturday.

Britain's three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray says he feels no pressure to return from hip surgery.

The 31-year-old Scot said in March he was "pain-free" after a resurfacing operation in January which he had said could end his career.

"I have been hitting the ball from a stationary position but I haven't been doing any movement," he told BBC Sport.

"I don't feel any pressure to get playing again but if my body will allow, I will try."

Speaking at the London Marathon, where he was the official starter, Murray said: "The hip is really good and there is no pain any more. I'm just a bit weak from the incision in the operation.

"I'm pain-free, happy and enjoying my life".

Former world number one Murray has not played competitively since the Australian Open in January, where he was beaten by Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round.

He said before the tournament that he planned to retire after Wimbledon this summer, but that the Australian Open could prove to be his last event.

Murray had the hip operation - which keeps more of the damaged bone than a hip replacement, smoothing the ball down and covering it with a metal cap - in London on 28 January.

No singles player has competed after having the operation, although American doubles player Bob Bryan returned five months after surgery in 2018.

Murray's mother Judy said on Wednesday that he was "cautiously optimistic" about returning to action "at some point this summer".

Ninth time is the charm in Indore

Published in Table Tennis
Saturday, 27 April 2019 21:58

Overall a total of 20 coaches from all parts of India attended, the maximum number accepted.

Notably, the Academy is a full-time dedicated table tennis stadium that features room for 40 tables with seating for up to 12,000 spectators. Participants were housed at the connected, Indore Sports Club, which is one of India’s finest facilities.

The ITTF Coach Education Programme in India is the result of a unique collaboration between the Table Tennis Federation of India and Tenvic, a company formed by Anil Kumble and Vasanth Bharadwaj. The company promotes the well-being of people and ecosystems across personal and professional spheres. It fosters lasting cultural, social and economic benefits for individuals, societies in India aimed at positively impacting the lives of people through sports in schools and clubs.

Significantly, this year Tenvic is organizing five ITTF courses along with a high performance camp.

An intense six days, the ITTF Level Two Course is always hard study both in the class room and on the tables, as coaches work on every aspect of teaching technique. Late night study sessions were the norm as the coaches prepared for the course examinations. All the hard work was rewarded as 16 out of 20 passed the course, many achieving the high marks necessary to qualify for a future ITTF Level Three Course.

Courses by the International Table Tennis Federation are not possible without the help of the local organizing committee and in Indore; we had an excellent one.

A special thank you goes to the Madhya Pradesh Table Tennis Association, in particular to Jayesh Acharya, the General Secretary, Padmashree Abhay Chhajlani, Shri. Sharad Goyal, the Secretary and Mr. Sanjay, staff member, for all the help and support needed to make this course possible.

Never before, can Mattias Falck be the first?

Published in Table Tennis
Saturday, 27 April 2019 22:14

In fact, only twice has a Chinese player experienced defeat against an adversary from foreign shores in the contest to decide who will hold high the St Bride Vase, both occasions involved Guo Yuehua against Japanese opposition. In 1977 in Birmingham he was beaten by Mitsuru Konno, two years later in Pyongyang by Seiji Ono when at the end of the third game being forced to withdraw injured.

European players have tried three times, never successful.

Now generations ago, in 1959 in Dortmund on the first ever occasion when a Chinese player reached the men’s singles final, Hungary’s Ferenc Sido was beaten by Rong Guotuan; later in 1973 on the other two instances when Europe faced China in the title decider, it was compatriots of Mattias Falck who experienced defeat. In 1973 in Sarajevo, at the final hurdle Kjell Johansson was beaten by Xi Enting; in 1987 in New Delhi, Jan-Ove Waldner lost to Jiang Jialiang.

Europe has enjoyed success since the appearance of China now 60 years ago; in particularly Sweden. In addition Hungary’s Istvan Jonyer, Frenchman Jean-Philippe Gatien and Werner Schlager; Stellan Bengtsson, Jan-Ove Waldner and Jörgen Persson all secured the precious title.

However, none beat Chinese opposition in the final; in fact Jan-Ove Waldner who won in 1989 in Dortmund and later in 1997 in Manchester, in the overall 14 matches played, he only faced one Chinese player; in Manchester he beat Yan Sen in the semi-finals.

Earlier, in 1989 Jörgen Persson, the runner up, had beaten them for him. After accounting for Indonesia’s Tonny Meringgi and England’s Skylet Andrew, he overcame Chen Zhibin, Xie Chaojie, Xu Zengcai and Yu Shentong to reach the final.

Now surely that is good news for Mattias Falck; the coach sitting courtside in Budapest will be Jörgen Persson!

Updates from Budapest: Final Day

Published in Table Tennis
Sunday, 28 April 2019 04:30
Women’s Doubles final reaction

Wang Manyu reacts to her and Sun Yingsha’s title winning performance:

“This is our second big international tournament and when we were down, we just tried our best because our opponents are very strong and competitive. We just told ourselves not to give but stick with the match.” Wang Manyu

SUN YINGSHA AND WANG MANYU ARE CHAMPIONS! (8-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8)

That’s it! In a tricky situation at 0-2 down on games at one stage in the match but it is Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu who take home the women’s doubles trophy 4-2. Japan’s Hina Hayata and Mima Ito save two championship points against them but the second seeds from China seal game six 11-8 to win gold on their World Championships debut.

Three in a row: Hayata/Ito 2-3 Sun/Wang

Well, well, well. From two games down the Chinese pair of Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu now lead 3-2 following a 12-10 win in game five. Hina Hayata and Mima Ito will feel disappointed with how the latter stages of the game unfolded but they must put game five behind them now and respond.

Time-out!

Hina Hayata and Mima Ito call time-out at 9-9 after the officials call a let service disputed by the Japanese pair.

Back to square one: Hayata/Ito 2-2 Sun/Wang

Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu take game four by a convincing 11-3 margin to level the game scores at 2-2. Is the tide beginning to turn?

Bouncing back: Hayata/Ito 2-1 Sun/Wang

The time-out works a treat for Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, who take the next two points to gain three game points. Hina Hayata and Mima Ito save one but they can’t prevent the Chinese pair from winning 11-8.

Time-out!

The Chinese duo take a time-out at 8-7 after dropping back-to-back points to their Japanese opponents.

Press Conference: Ma Long 4-1 Mattias Falck

Men’s singles gold and silver medallists Ma Long and Mattias Falck speak to the press about their thrilling battle:

“As a member of the Chinese team you have to play under pressure because of the records set by our predecessors for us. So for me I want to continue with the tradition and that is why I tried my best in every tournament. I think the pressure was more in 2017 than now because I was ranked 11th in this competition and that did not give me more pressure like 2017. I have to put in my best in this final because this might be the last chance for me to win the title. I also think Mattias has improved a lot since last year because we played against each other at Halmstad in 2018. He is a rare player with his style of play, he is strong tactically and mentally and I think he will be our rival in future. Fortunately for both of us we were prepared for the match by two former champions and that made it tough for us.” Ma Long

“I think this is my best performance in my career and it has been a fantastic tournament for me. I am happy with my performance in this tournament. I just need one more year to be higher than this again. Ma Long is a clever player, who changes a lot in the match and he has no weaknesses whatsoever. But I will have to improve my tactics and be more aggressive next time I meet him.” Mattias Falck

Positive signs for Japanese pair: Hayata/Ito 2-0 Sun/Wang

The signs are looking very positive for Hina Hayata and Mima Ito as they take game 11-3 to sail into a two games advantage – can Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu pull themselves back into this one?

Top seeds off to solid start: Hayata/Ito 1-0 Sun/Wang

Game one goes to the Japanese pair as Hina Hayata and Mima Ito fight back from a 3-5 deficit to take the opener 11-8.

Match underway

The players are on the table, the women’s doubles final is now underway.

Japan vs China

Next up we have another exciting contest on the way as Japanese top seeds Hina Hayata and Mima Ito take on Chinese second seeds Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu for the women’s doubles title.

The champion speaks

Ma Long takes a moment to thank his fans following his third World Championships success:

“I think this is a special celebration for me and I just want to enjoy this moment for now. I want to thank my Chinese fans and also the foreign fans for their support. I am not only interested in winning this title but I also want to gain your respect.” Ma Long

MA LONG IS WORLD CHAMPION!!! (11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5)

He has done it! Ma Long wins the men’s singles title for the third time in a row, Mattias Falck puts up a brave fight but it is the Dragon, the Captain, the Dictator that claims game five 11-5.

Time-out!

Ma Long now takes his time-out leading 9-5. Will he get the job done?

Narrow margins: Ma Long 3-1 Mattias Falck

The time-out doesn’t produce the desired effect for Mattias Falck as Ma Long picks up three consecutive points to take the game 11-9. How will the Swede respond?

Time-out!

Mattias Falck opts for his time-out, he leads 9-8 in a crucial fourth game.

Swede responds: Ma Long 2-1 Mattias Falck

That’s more like it from Mattias Falck! The Swede storms into a convincing 9-2 lead, Ma Long manages to bridge the gap slightly but game three belongs to Falck 11-7. This is the first time Falck has taken a game off Ma in his career!

Ma Long unfazed: Ma Long 2-0 Mattias Falck

Mattias Falck begins to grow into the match, fighting back from 5-2 down to establish a 5-6 lead but Ma Long isn’t fazed winning the second game 11-7. The Dragon holds a two games advantage in this match.

Early lead for defending champion: Ma Long 1-0 Mattias Falck

Ma Long strikes first with an 11-5 win in game one. The defending champion is dealing with his opponent’s short pimples well, keeping the ball low and restricting Mattias Falck to just a handful of points.

Warm-up concludes

Here we go, the warm-up session is over. Now it’s time for the main event!

Players on court

Ma Long and Mattias Falck have entered the arena for the men’s singles final – get ready for a thrilling battle!

Closing day in Budapest

It’s time for the final day of play in Budapest. Get ready for what promises to be an exciting finale – for detailed information take a look at the fixture schedule below:

Preview Final Day

Take a closer look at the two fixtures coming up on the final day with our quick preview article:

Preview Final Day: Crunch time in Budapest, destiny awaits

Manika Batra x TATA Trickshot

Watch Manika Batra take on the TATA Trickshot Challenge:

Ma Long for third time, joins legendary names

Published in Table Tennis
Sunday, 28 April 2019 05:30

Thus for the sixth consecutive occasion Ma Long stood on the men’s singles podium when the World Championships curtain closed, more significantly for the third time in a row on the top step.

Most certainly he was tested, after losing the opening two games, Mattias Falck dominated the third before establishing an 8-6 lead in the fourth, at 9-8 in arrears Ma Long called “Time Out”, advice from coach Qin Zhijian, the pause worked to perfection. A two game cushion a more relaxed Ma Long, pressed the accelerator.

“I think this is a special celebration for me and I just want to enjoy this moment for now.
I want thank my Chinese fans and also the foreign fans for their support. I am not only interested in winning this title but I also want to gain your respect.” Ma Long

Only on debut, when in 2017 in the fourth round in Zagreb he tried to blast the defensive skills of the Korea Republic’s Joo Saehyuk out of the water and duly came to grief, has Ma Long not departed with a men’s singles medal. Commencing in 2009 in Yokohama, on three editions it was a semi-final defeat at the hands of colleague Wang Hao; in 2015 in Suzhou he turned the corner and ever since has been driving down the main road.

He now joins the elite club of which Hungarian born Victor Barna and China’s Zhuang Zedong are members; players who have won the men’s singles title at a World Championships on three consecutive occasions.

Notably in an era when the event was he held on an annual basis Victor Barna won in 1930 in Berlin, before in 1931 being the runner up in Budapest; one year later he succeeded in 1932 in Prague and then on the next three occasions to make it an incredible four in row, five overall.

A total of six World Championships and always a place on the podium, it is the same number for Ma Long but note over a period of more than a decade, as opposed to the seven year period of Victor Barna. The two great names stand shoulder to shoulder.

Equally, Ma Long matches Zhuang Zedong, the winner on three consecutive occasions, when as now the event is held on a biennial basis; he won in 1961 in Beijing, in 1963 in Prague and then in 1965 in Ljubljana. One can only surmise but had it not been for the Cultural Revolution would he have made it four in a row in 1967 in Stockholm?

It is to that illustrious club Ma Long now belongs; legendary status.

Men’s Singles Final: Match Report

by Ian Marshall, Editor

Success and they very much maintained the ethos of the tournament; they commenced play as the second seeds as opposed to their opponents who headed the order. Thus, somewhat different to previous years, of the five events on offer, not one was won by the top seeds.

Undoubtedly the crucial stage of the contest arose in the sixth game, level at 9-all, Hina Hayata and Mima Ito, elected for “Time Out”, the break was to work in favour of Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu.

Notably Hina Hayata and Mima Ito had enjoyed success in opposition to Chinese partnerships; on the Seamaster ITTF World Tour, they beat Chen Meng and Zhu Yuling in the final in 2017 in Stockholm before last year securing the title in Linz at the final expense of Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha.

In Budapest there was to be no repeat, Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu underled their growing status, having earlier this year won on the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour in Qatar.

It is the 22nd time when China has won the women’s doubles title but since 1997 in Manchester when Deng Yaping and Yang won, it is only the second time that the title has not been won be a left and right handed partnership. Like colleagues Liu Shiwen and Zhu Yuling who won in 2015 in Suzhou both Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu are right handers.

Moreover, it is the ninth time China has completed the clean sweep of the five events.

Men’s Singles Final: Match Report

Saracens ran in three first-half tries to beat Wasps 31-14 and consolidate second place in the Premiership table.

Ben Spencer's interception try opened the scoring early on before an Owen Farrell penalty and a Liam Williams try put Sarries 15-0 up after 20 minutes.

Lima Sopoanga's first Wasps try was cancelled out by a Will Skelton effort and two more Farrell penalties.

Farrell kicked a fourth penalty before Nathan Hughes' consolation try for Wasps with Sarries down to 14 men.

Wasps centre Jimmy Gopperth played for the first time since suffering a pre-season anterior cruciate ligament injury, but his side were a shadow of the one that lost to Saracens in his last game - their Premiership semi-final defeat at Allianz Park last season.

Wasps are seventh in the Premiership, four points off the final play-off place with two games to go, while Saracens need one more win to guarantee second place and a home semi-final in the play-offs.

Spencer intercepted Joe Simpson's pass to run 60 metres for the opener and British and Irish Lions full-back Williams rounded off a good move soon after.

Sopanga took advantage when Simpson appeared to be offside as he charged down a Sarries kick before feeding Kearnan Myall, who put the former All Black through for his first five-pointer in 23 games since his summer move from New Zealand.

The 6ft 8in Skelton then raced over for Sarries after a clever short pass from Spencer helped open up a gap in the Wasps defence around the ruck before the break.

Nick Isiekwe was sin-binned with 14 minutes to go for bringing down a Wasps maul on his side's try-line and the hosts took advantage as Hughes went over after a television review to score the only try of a poor second half.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young:

"We got what we deserved. We were miles off the pace in the first half and came second best in every area.

"We didn't get past four phases so never really fired any shots ourselves.

"The week off last week hasn't done us any favours, we just looked out of aces which is hugely disappointing considering where we are.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall:

"I think to back up last weekend emotionally and physically given the scale of the game and at the same place was always going to be a challenge.

"I think the team did well to put in the overall performance that we did, especially in the first half. It was a good performance given what we'd gone through the week before.

"It's the first time we've played more or less the same team in consecutive games for seven matches, trying to fight on two fronts.

"We've come through this unscathed and we can wrap some players up in cotton wool with the final in mind."

Wasps: Le Roux; Watson, Daly, Lovobalavu, Bassett; Sopoaga, Simpson; Zhvania, Johnson (capt), Brookes, Rowlands, Myall, Shields, Carr, Hughes.

Replacements: Cruse, McIntyre, Cooper-Woolley, Matthews, Morris, Hampson, Gopperth, de Jongh.

Saracens: Goode; Strettle, Lozowski, Tompkins, Williams; Farrell, Spencer; Barrington, George, Lamositele, Skelton, Kruis, Itoje, Clark, B. Vunipola.

Replacements: Gray, Thompson-Stringer, Koch, Isiekwe, Burger, H. Taylor, Morris, Lewington.

Referee: Wayne Barnes

For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.

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