Dual Olympic champion Zhang Yining lost her first international counterwork against Wang Nan this season, making a quarter-final exit in the ITTF Pro Tour table tennis Grand Finals in Beijing on December 11.

The world number one served better and played smart with a barrage of attacks from both wings but seemed to run out of steam, losing 4-1 (12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10) in the eye-catching showdown between the women's table tennis 1-2 in the world.

"I've been totally coming out for the match, and that's why I win it," said triple Olympic champion Wang. "Also, Zhang has not trained as much as me after she was crowned the Olympic women's singles since she had so many social responsibilities as a historic gold winner."

A native of Beijing, Zhang received no louder applause than Wang, a "grand slam" winner of Olympic, World Championships and World Cup crowns.

With one set down already, Zhang, who was regarded the new generation of China table tennis, gave no chance for Wang to recover in the second set and easily swapped a 11-4 win.

Awake from sudden lethargy, Wang made it three-all by taking the third and fourth sets, 11-7, 11-9. While trailing 1-3 in the decider, Wang had a lapse of concentration that allowed a string of score-rise in turns.

The former world top female paddler, who's now ranked third, was given a scare when Zhang came close to set point with 9-7 but Wang outlasted the 22-year-old Beijinger 12-10.

In a later quarter of the women's singles, China's promising teenager Guo Yue breezed past Olympic bronze medalist Kim Kyung Ah of South Korea 4-1 (11-5, 11-13, 11-9, 11-6,11-4) to set up an all Chinese semi with Wang Nan.

"The match went under control, and the victory is just what my thorough preparation was paid back," said the 16-year-old Guo, who partnered with currently second-ranked Niu Jianfeng for last summer's Olympic women's doubles bronze medal in Athens.

Source: Xinhua