Wang Manyu Cruises Past Opponent in WTT US Grand Smash, Sets Up Showdown with Zhu Yuling
Wang Manyu cruised past her opponent in the women's singles final at the World Tour Finals in Las Vegas on Saturday to secure her place in the top four of the rankings.
The Chinese player defeated Japan's Mima Ito in straight sets (11-8, 11-5, 11-9) to claim her second consecutive title at the event.
"I'm very happy to win this title," Wang said after the match. "I want to thank my coach and team for their support and encouragement throughout the tournament."
The victory puts Wang into contention for the gold medal at the upcoming World Cup in Tokyo, where she will be joined by Zhu Yuling, who won the women's doubles title earlier in the week.
Zhu, who is currently ranked fifth in the world, was also impressive in the women's doubles final,Table Tennis News Flash partnering with Chen Meng to defeat South Korea's Kim Ha-na and Jeon Hee-kyun 21-17, 21-14.
"This was a great day for us as a team," Zhu said. "We worked hard all week and it paid off today. We're looking forward to competing in Tokyo and hopefully winning the gold medal."
Both players have had successful seasons so far, with Wang reaching the final of the World Tour Finals and Zhu winning the mixed doubles title at the same event.
However, the showdown between the two players could be one of the highlights of the coming year's schedule, given their respective rankings and form.
As they prepare for the World Cup, both players will be hoping to build on their success in Las Vegas and continue their strong performances in the months ahead.
