Timo’s won his 15th Pro Tour title beating MA Lin in Doha!

21/02/2009 - For the first time in career Timo BOLL reached the final of Qatar Open and in the same day he won the 15th title at the Pro Tour. He was unstoppable on his way to the top where he beat first seeded China’s MA Lin in seven thrilling sets: 6:11, 11:8, 11:6, 11:7, 5:11, 6:11, 14:12.

BOLL was very close to have some taste of his own medicine. Opposite to the semi final, where he was losing three games to one, and then beat HAO Shuai in ultimate stage, German was leading 3:1 when the Chinese star leveled the game. But Timo kept his nerve and won the match. It was first win after three last defeats.

BOLL also prevented MA Lin of winning the title three times in the raw. So far Zoran PRIMORAC is the only player who did it in Qatar. "I have played really on a high level today. Two months before the start of World Championships in Yokohama it was a very important victory for me, and for my self-confidence. But I know the Chinese will be prepared very well against me, and now, maybe, they will study my game before Yokohama even better. But I am playing in a good shape and I hope I can maintain it for a while", said BOLL.

Timo reached the final in the match with great twist. German managed to recover from 1:3 and to beat seventh seeded HAO Shuai of China: 7:11, 10:12, 11:6, 9:11, 11:6, 11:5, 11:8. BOLL kept his record against HAO clean – in three matches he has three wins.

"The final was a match on a very high level from both players, with advantages for Timo in the first part and for MA Lin in the second. For both the seventh game was an eye-to-eye-fight with tremendous rallies. The trip to the Middle East was very fruitful for Timo. In Kuwait and Qatar he succeeded against CHEN Qi, HAO Shuai and MA Lin, three top Chinese players and lost only to WANG Hao in a high-level-match. It is important for Timo to play against the best Chinese players, because there are only a few opportunities to meet them. But he needs those matches to increase his skills", said coach Richard PRAUSE

In Women’s singles event ZHANG Yining won the title. In final she beat other Chinese player GUO Yue In straight sets.

In Men’s doubles event MA Long and XU Xin overcame HAO Shuai and Wang Liqin in ultimate stage. ZHANG Yining added another gold to the list. With GUO Yue she overcame DING Ning and LIU Shiwen in Women’s singles event.

(EWT)

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Photo: Timo BOLL won his 15th Pro Tour title (Photo Roscher)

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