FRANKFURT, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Top two seeds Wang Manyu and Wang Yidi advanced to the women's singles final to secure the title for China at the WTT Champions Frankfurt on Saturday.
Defending champion Wang Yidi booked her ticket to the final by defeating Japanese Miwa Harimoto 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7.
"It's a wonderful match, very intense on the court. I controlled the tempo quite well. I could play in a determined manner thanks to ample encouragement from my coach Ma Lin," said Wang Yidi.
"I learned the lessons from the previous two encounters when I lost to Miwa. I lost to her twice in very tight play because I wasn't determined enough. I played more proactively today," added the 27-year-old.
Reaching her first WTT Champions final two weeks ago in Montpellier, 16-year-old Harimoto was eager to make the final for the second successive event, but she couldn't achieve what she was hoping for.
Wang Yidi and her compatriot Wang Manyu set up a rematch of last year's final in Frankfurt.
Top seed Wang Manyu encountered stern resistance in her semifinal showdown with her teammate Chen Xingtong, especially during the opening game. But starting from the second game, Wang Manyu took complete control to claim a 7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-2, 11-5 comeback win.
In the men's singles semifinal, second seed Lin Shidong swept past defending champion Lin Yun-Ju from Chinese Taipei 11-9, 13-11, 11-2, 11-8.
Lin Shidong will play against Anton Kallberg in the final, with the latter outplaying his Swedish compatriot and Olympic silver medalist Truls Moregard 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5.
Kallberg has been in very good form this week, having stunned current world No. 1 Wang Chuqin in the round of 16.
"The final must be an excellent one, and I need to be fully prepared for it," said Lin Shidong. ■
