Chinese table tennis star Wang Manyu made a strong start at the World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday, defeating Sweden’s Christina Kallberg in straight sets to advance to the second round.
Seeded second in the tournament, Wang faced Kallberg for the first time in her career. Despite Kallberg’s aggressive play and precise shot placement, Wang showcased her experience and composure to secure a 3-0 victory with scores of 11-9, 11-8, 11-8.
The first game was tightly contested, with Kallberg controlling rallies early on. However, Wang capitalized on her opponent’s errors to clinch the opening set 11-9.
In the second game, the players were neck and neck, leveling at 7-7. Wang then surged ahead with two consecutive points, maintaining her lead to take the set 11-8, increasing her advantage to 2-0.
Kallberg started strong in the third game, but Wang quickly regrouped, tying the score at 5-5 and then pulling ahead. Holding match point at 10-7, Wang sealed the victory at 11-8 despite Kallberg’s efforts to stay in the match.
Wang Manyu will face Lee Eun-hye of the Republic of Korea in the next round as she continues her quest for the title.
