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Mike Chan

There will be a new women’s champion at the World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash after China’s Chen Yi and Zhu Yuling of Macau reached the final on Saturday.
Chen, 19, beat compatriot Kuai Man 4-3 in her first semi-final, winning 6-11, 11-3, 3-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-9 in 53 minutes. Chen levelled the match on three occasions and came from behind in the tense decider.
It was the rising star’s second win in as many matches against world No 5 Kuai.
“I had played against Kuai so many times before and we were on a similar level,” Chen said. “I guess I had a bit more luck today, and I am thrilled right now.
“[My final opponent] Zhu is more experienced. I lost 3-0 to her in Taiyuan, so obviously I am the underdog here and I will do the best I can to challenge her.”

Chen’s run – which included a stunning 3-1 win over Sun Yingsha and a victory from 3-0 down to eliminate Japan’s Hina Hayata – in Las Vegas sparked an off-field saga back home.
During her third-round win over world No 1 Sun, former national team star Guo Yan said Chen needed to be “smarter” and urged her not to “go all in” against the reigning world champion while commentating during a live broadcast.
The comments created a storm online and two-time World Cup-winner Guo later apologised.
In the other semi-final at Orleans Arena, Zhu gave up a two-game lead over world No 8 Mima Ito of Japan before eventually sealing a 4-2 victory.
“It’s my first encounter with Ito in more than five years; this was a close match and a long-awaited one,” the world No 14 said. “My mood right now is the same as the applause you all just gave me.”
Zhu, a physical education professor at Tianjin University and a student in business management at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu, suggested Sunday’s final would be a battle of minds.
“[The final] depends on who performs above their level,” the 30-year-old said. “When two strong players meet, it is not the brave one that wins, but the wise one.”
In the men’s final, world No 2 Wang Chuqin will face Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto after he beat France’s Felix Lebrun 4-3 in the semi-final.
Harimoto, the world No 4, edged out China’s world No 1 Lin Shidong 4-3, and victory over Wang would see him become the first non-Chinese player to triumph at a Smash event.
In the doubles events, Kuai partnered Wang Yidi and Lin to win the women’s and mixed doubles titles, but China failed to triumph at all five events in the US as South Korean pair An Jae-hyun and Lim Jong-hoon beat French brothers Alexis and Felix Lebrun in the men’s doubles final.


Wang and Sun warm up for WTT Finals as China hammer Hong Kong in Mixed Team World Cup

WTT Finals: Lebrun reveals which Chinese ace he most wants to beat in Hong Kong

WTT Finals: Truls Moregard aims to create more happy memories of Hong Kong

Tokyo Olympics hero Soo announces retirement, sheds ‘tears of gratitude’ for 12-year journey

ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation)

Chinese rising star reaches WTT Smash final, eyes first title

Chen Yi’s impressive run at the WTT Smash in the United has taken her to the final after she beat Kuai Man in the semi-finals. Photo: Handout

Zhu Yuling has her sights on a first title after reaching the WTT Smash final. Photo: Handout

Table tennis world No 2 Wang Chuqin gets traffic fine before heading off to WTT event in US

Wang Chuqin hits a return during the singles final against Hugo Calderano of Brazil at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha, Qatar in May. Photo: Xinhua

Sun Yingsha is in the same half of the draw as Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Hina Hayata Photo: EPA-EFE

Table tennis World Cup champ Calderano denied US visa over Cuba trip, misses WTT Grand Smash

Hugo Calderano, winner of the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2025 in Macao, has been denied a visa to enter the United States. Photo: Xinhua

Hugo Calderano in action during the men’s teams quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics. Photo: AP

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Chen Yi, 19, edges out Kuai Man in semi-final, will meet Zhu Yuling, who is also looking for maiden triumph


Chen Yi, 19, edges out Kuai Man in semi-final, will meet Zhu Yuling, who is also looking for maiden triumph.


Wang Chuqin