Dream final between Ma and Zhang evaporates as Zhang loses to unknown teammate

The dream men's singles final between world No.1 Ma Long and defending champion Zhang Jike was not set up as an exhausted Zhang was stunned by obscure teammate Fang Bo 4-1 in the semifinals here on Sunday.

Zhang has joked that the late men's doubles final, which was delayed by an earlier women's singles final on Saturday evening, might affect his rest and form, and the world number three indeed looked rusty during his singles semifinal match against a robust Fang.

In the women's singles final, the eventual winner Ding Ning was dragged into a seven-set thriller by teammate Liu Shiwen, and Ding was injured in the final set and asked for a medical treatment. The delay affected Ding's form but she still fought all the way to the final glory.

Unlike the fortunate Ding, Zhang never recovered from his exhaustion and his longtime right shoulder injury in the semifinal.

Zhang staged some sizzling shots in the match, but it's not good enough to beat a rising Fang. Zhang pulled one set back after losing the first two, but was struggling again in the fourth and fifth sets.

The twice defending champion saved one match point while trailing at 10-9 in the fifth set, but Fang reeled off the next two points to claim the victory and a berth in the final.

Ma, who was stopped at the semifinals three times in 2009, 2011, and 2013 tournaments in a row, will vie against Fang for the men's singles crown. Endi