Men's Singles Final at the 2002: Qin Zhijian (CHN) v. Ma Lin (CHN)

Overview

The 2002 US Open men’s singles final in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pitted Ma Lin (CHN), age 22, against Wang Liqin / Wang Le-chin (CHN) in an all-Chinese matchup with contrasting storylines.

Ma entered as the power-and-precision player, known for strong serving and touch shots. Wang, despite being more associated with doubles, had surged through the weekend and stunned the tournament’s dominant world No. 1 seed earlier in the event.

Pre-match Context and Form

• Wang had been nearly flawless through the draw, losing only four games total.
• Notable wins included:
  • Defeating Li Goon (96 Gold Medalist) 4–0 in the quarterfinals
  • Defeating Schöggar (Austria) 4–1 in the semifinals
• Ma brought strong two-way play (singles and doubles). He had already shown he could control matches through:
  • Serve dominance
  • Pressure on returns
• The broadcast noted one recurring weakness for Ma: he sometimes allowed opponents to back into rallies early if pressured on the forehand.

Match Progression (Best-of-Five Games)

Game 1

• The broadcast described an early pattern of “parrying” and feeling-out, with both players trading returns while Ma searched for chances to unleash his forehand.
• Wang’s returning and defense repeatedly denied Ma easy attacking looks, though Ma still secured key points.
• Ma won Game 1 (11–5), aided by crucial finishing shots and better point management late in the game.

Game 2

• Ma started with overwhelming momentum and built a 6–0 lead.
• Wang showed flashes of control, especially on strategic forehand corners, but Ma’s power plus spin variation repeatedly pushed him wide and off balance.
• Ma extended the advantage as Wang struggled to stabilize serve returns early.
• Ma won Game 2 (11–7) to take a commanding 2–0 lead.

Game 3

• The narrative shifted: Wang began finding better timing and consistency, reading Ma’s serve more effectively and attacking openings with more success.
• Wang converted more mid-rallies into winners, targeting Ma’s weaknesses with disciplined placement rather than sheer power.
• Still, Ma controlled the pace and capitalized when Wang’s technique dipped.
• Ma won Game 3 (11–7), going up 3–0 in games and putting Wang on the brink.

Game 4

• Wang revived his challenge and forced the match to extend.
• The broadcast highlighted Wang’s reach, recovery ability, and the importance of his forehands and touch shots.
• Ma remained dangerous when given attacking chances, but Wang generated points and kept rallies alive, sustaining pressure.
• Multiple turning moments occurred, including Wang converting critical exchanges that prevented Ma from sealing it earlier.
• Wang won Game 4 (11–8), cutting the deficit to 3–1.

Game 5 (Final Game)

• Wang pushed early again, but Ma regained full control and closed out the match.
• With Ma serving strongly and executing under pressure, Wang struggled to convert chances consistently and repeatedly faced Ma’s aggressive response patterns.
• Ma Lin won Game 5, taking the title 4–1 in games.

Outcome

• Champion: Ma Lin (CHN)
• Final score: Ma Lin def. Wang Liqin / Wang Le-chin, 4–1
• The broadcast’s key theme: Ma’s ability to withstand Wang’s surges—especially after Wang’s late comeback attempt in games four and five—while Ma dominated through service pressure and forehand attack creation.

Presenters / Sources

• Phil Shane
• Dan C. Miller