Feng Tianwei and Ai Fukuhara clashed for the 18th time to earn the right to progress to the women's table tennis semifinals. Fukuhara has yet to drop her game at these games, while Feng had to overcome a two-game deficit in her last game. The Singaporean though would be favorite having lost just thrice to the Japanese.
It was a close affair in the early stages but Fukuhara always found the extra edge to win the games. Feng just could not find a breakthrough, as the Japanese swept aside the second seed in four straight games for a 14-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 victory .
Tight first game with multiple game points saved
Feng got the match underway and both dropped one point on serve as the game went to 2-2. The Singaporean was effective on serve and soon pulled away to a 6-3 lead. Fukuhara unleashed some fierce shots to close the gap and the net too went in her favor as the game once again was level at 6-6. It was a close game with neither player making many errors.
Feng’s error at 9-8 then allowed the Japanese to get herself game point at 10-9. However, she failed to serve it out and soon it was the Singaporean who had game point at 11-10. Fukuhara was fighting hard as she too saved game point before conjuring up a beauty of a point to set up a game point on her own serve at 12-11. Both players were fighting hard and even though Feng saved it, she couldn’t save the next as her backhand went long to hand the Japanese the topsy-turvy first game 14-12.
Fukuhara takes control
Fukuhara had the lead for most parts of the second game and was able to change up directions with pace which put Feng on the backfoot. The Japanese had the lead at 6-4 but Feng was able to get back for 6-6. However, Fukuhara kept going back to changing direction swiftly whenever she had the chance and it was working as she then took an 8-6 lead. She was moving Feng all over the place and the Singaporean was struggling to handle her pace. The Japanese then set herself up for two game points at 10-8 and Feng could only hit her shot skywards as Fukuhara raced to a 2-0 lead.
Match slips away from Feng with errors mounting
The Japanese player was in control of rallies and Feng started to make errors in the third game. Trailing 4-6, the Singapore coach then called a timeout. As the Japanese surged to an 8-6 lead, Feng came up with a brilliant backhand down the line to win one of the longer rallies. However, that did not faze the Japanese who then reeled off three straight points to get game points at 10-7. Feng who was serving to stay in the game could not salvage the game points as Fukuhara wrapped up the game 11-7.
Feng fades away as Fukuhara finishes strongly
Everything was going the way of the Japanese and she was soon running away with the game. Feng simply had no answer as Fukuhara led 8-1 in a must-win game for the Singaporean. Feng managed to pull one back after a rare backhand error from the Japanese and did all she could to stay in the match. However, an unfortunate backhand error from Feng gave Fukuhara five match points, who was a point away from an impending upset. The 2012 bronze medallist only succeeded in saving one of those as the Japanese sealed went on to finish for an impressive win.