WTT Sweden Grand Slam Women's Singles Semifinals Set: Chen Yi Suffers 0-4 Defeat, Three Chinese National Team Stars to Surround Zhang Benmei

On August 16, Beijing time, the women's singles quarterfinals of the WTT Sweden Grand Slam wrapped up. Wang Manyu, ranked second in the world, reversed Peng Yuhan 4-1, Wang Yidi swept teammate Shi Xunyao 4-0 with full force, while Chen Yi lost 0-4 to top rival Zhang Benmei. Meanwhile, Kuai Man battled through seven games to edge out Japan's mainstay Hina Hayata 4-3. This set the final four: Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi, Zhang Benmei, and Kuai Man. The semifinals will feature a Chinese trio ganging up on Zhang Benmei, with Wang Manyu facing Kuai Man in a domestic clash, and Wang Yidi taking on Zhang Benmei.

Wang Manyu faced Peng Yuhan. Against a player with a special style, Wang Manyu initially struggled to adapt to the rhythm, losing the first game 12-14 after a tough battle. However, she adjusted in the second game, launching a strong attack to win 11-4 and 11-6, reversing the lead. Although the fourth game was tightly contested, she held on to win 15-13. In the fifth game, Wang Manyu completely took over, finishing quickly with an 11-6 victory, thus securing a 4-1 comeback to advance to the semifinals.

Wang Yidi faced Shi Xunyao. This was an internal battle between Chinese national team players, with the mainstay taking on a non-mainstay. Since they knew each other well, there was little probing, and the match proceeded without much suspense. The experienced Wang Yidi dominated, controlling the pace throughout and outperforming Shi Xunyao in both offense and defense as well as key points. She quickly swept the match 4-0 with scores of 11-5, 11-9, 11-7, and 11-9, storming into the semifinals.

Chen Yi faced Zhang Benmei again. In their recent encounter at the Yokohama Champions, Chen Yi led 2-0 but lost 3-2 to Zhang Benmei's comeback. This time, we hoped Chen Yi could defeat her, but reality was cruel. Chen Yi seemed intimidated by Zhang Benmei, losing the first game 1-11. The second game also saw her overwhelmed by Zhang Benmei's fast attacks, losing 6-11. In the third game, Chen Yi fought back and kept the score close, but failed to win key points, losing 10-12. By the fourth game, Chen Yi had lost her fighting spirit, collapsing 7-11, thus losing 0-4. Zhang Benmei's progress is remarkable, with her speed and attack outclassing Chen Yi, who lacked adaptability. It seems only Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu can currently contain Zhang Benmei for China.

Kuai Man faced Hina Hayata. Against a Japanese player she had beaten multiple times, Kuai Man faced strong resistance. She couldn't hold on in the first game, losing 7-11. However, she then unleashed a dominant performance, winning three consecutive games 11-5, 11-3, and 11-6 to take a 3-1 lead. But Hayata erupted, launching a fierce comeback, winning two straight games 11-3 and 12-10 to level the match at 3-3, setting up a decisive seventh game. In the final game, Kuai Man showed her superior strength, holding on to win 11-8, thus securing a 4-3 victory and avoiding a reverse sweep, claiming the last semifinal spot.

Text/Sports Novel