China Masters: Shi, Ginting Bite the Dust
Christo Popov continued to add to his growing stature in singles with an impressive straight-games takedown of home favourite Shi Yu Qi in the second round of the LI-NING China Masters 2023.
· DEV SUKUMAR
It was a day of upsets, with second seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting falling to Lin Chun-Yi, and the exit of An Se Young earlier in the day.
Lanky left-hander Lin Chun-Yi executed a 21-18 21-17 takedown of Ginting to progress to the quarterfinals against Zhao Jun Peng.
Popov’s result, only his second entry into the quarterfinals of a Super 750, will mean invaluable ranking points as he contests with compatriots such as his brother Toma Junior and Arnaud Merkle. Christo is currently No.24 in the Race to Paris rankings, while Toma Junior is No.19.