Top seed Ma Long went up against the Japan's Jun Mizutani looking to cement his place in finals. The world number one, who has achieved much silverware in his career, looked one step closer to achieving the Olympic gold as he raced to a three-game lead. However, Mizutani was not going down without a fight, stepping up his level to win two games on the trot to apply pressure on the top seed. Ma, however, was able to overcome Mizutani in the sixth game to clinch an 11-5, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 10-12, 11-5 victory.
Quick hands and feet from Ma to take the opening game
The match was great from start to finish. The pair were getting into exciting rallies in the opener that had both players being pushed further back from the table. The Chinese had the edge most of the time and the quick-footed Ma was able to get to most of the shots. Even when on the backfoot his defense got him out of trouble and having set five-game points at 10-5, the top seed sealed the opening game 11-5 in quick fashion.
Mizutani finds it hard to combat Ma's attacks
Mizutani struggled to handle the pace of Ma and soon trailed 4-1 in the second game. However, Mizutani tried to hang on in some of the long rallies using his defense well and won one of those exchanges to stop the rot for 2-5. Most times, however, it was the lethal forehands and speed of Ma’s shots that gave him the edge in the rallies to extend his lead to 8-2. A very poor serve into the net from the Mizutani then gifted Ma with seven game points. Mizutani tried to be the aggressor and it momentarily helped him save two of those but it was not enough to stop Ma from taking the second game.
Ma in the driver's seat taking a 3-0 lead
Ma once again took the lead but Mizutani fought back to level it 2-2. Ma constantly used his forehand to fire away at Mizutani racking up a 4-2 lead. The game unfolded in a similar fashion to the previous with Ma winning the rallies and Mizutani unable to find an answer. And the top seed went on to close out the game with the same scoreline, 11-5.
Momentum shift as Mizutani comes back from the brink of defeat
Mizutani began the fourth game well taking a two-point lead winning both points on his serve. Ma, with a rare error, gave the Mizutani a 3-1 lead. Mizutani benefitted from Ma’s errors to build up a four-point gap with 5-1. It was beginning to look encouraging from Mizutani who continued maintaining the gap at 7-3 and then 8-4. Ma then looked to have recovered from his momentary lapse as he won the next three points to reduce the deficit to one point at 7-8.
Mizutani then called timeout and regrouped in sensational style hammering a monstrous forehand down the line before smacking another with venom to set up game points. Mizutani was fired up by now and lunged with a big forehand that Ma could only return into the net as Mizutani got himself into the match for 1-3.
Ma lets his control slip as Mizutani gets fired up
The momentum looked to have swung the way of Mizutani as he picked up where he left off winning the first point of the fifth game in similar fashion. However, it did not last long, as Ma reeled off four points in a row to take a 4-1 lead. In a back and forth exchange, Ma’s attacks won against the defensive shots from Mizutani as the Ma held onto his lead at 5-3.
Opening up the game 7-3, the top seed looked to have control of the game. Ma’s coach then called a timeout at 7-4 but it was Mizutani who won the next point before leveling the game with a forehand smash. The game was reaching a tight finish with Mizutani showing he was well in it. From 8-8 to 9-9 to 10-10 the game went as game point went begging for Mizutani. Ma though totally missed his bat on the ball, handing Mizutani another chance to close out the game. Mizutani grabbed it with aplomb to catch up with the top seed.
Mizutani fades away as Ma remains solid to see out the match
Arguably the best point of the match went the way of Ma, who had to defend with all he had, before engaging in a forehand battle to eventually triumph for a 3-1 lead in the sixth game. That seemed to have fired him up and Ma then raced to a staggering 7-2 lead. Mizutani gave himself a breather taking the next point but the top seed was not going to let up, sending a sweet backhand into the open table setting up seven match points. And on his third match point, the world number one eventually got it done to progress to the gold medal.