Shepparton International SF: Hong Kong’s Tse and Fung Cause Upsets

There were two surprise results in the semi-finals of the City of Greater Shepparton International with a pair of Hongkongers, in Lam Shing Fung and Toby Tse taking out higher seeded players to make it through to the finals of the Challenger 3 level tournament.

Starting with Tse, who was the No.3 seed for the women’s draw coming in to the tournament, and she took on No.2 seed Akari Midorikawa in the last four of the competition. The Japanese No.2 had claimed victory in Bendigo last week and was in great form, but Tse won out in four games in just 29 minutes to book her spot in the just the second final of her fledgling career.

Tse will take on top seed, Australia’s Sarah Cardwell, in the final on Sunday afternoon in Shepparton, after the World No.80 downed No.4 seed Wai Sze Wing in a contest that went all the way to a tie-break in the deciding game. The Aussie, playing on home soil, found herself behind after three games, but won the fourth to level the match, before then eventually taking the fifth game 13-11 to book her spot in the final.

The men’s event also will see a surprise in the final, as No.8 seed Lam Shing Fung defeated No.6 seed Ho Ka Hei in straight games. Fung had already beaten No.2 seed Shady El Sherbiny to make the last four, and he spent just 25 minutes on court in the semis, winning 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 to punch his ticket through to the final.

He will take on the tournament’s tops seed, Malaysia’s Hafiz Zhafri, in the final on Sunday after the World No.233 downed Hong Kong’s Andes Ling in five games. Zhafri led by two games, but the Hongkonger fought back to send the match into a decider. In a rapid fire contest, the Malaysian regrouped to win the fifth game 11-7, with just 48 minutes on the clock.

The finals of the City of Greater Shepparton International will take place on Sunday, July 10, with Hong Kong’s Lam Shing Fung and Toby Tse taking on Malaysia’s Hafiz Zhafri and Aussie Sarah Cardwell, respectively, for the Challenger 3 level titles.

*Men’s Semi-Final Results: City of Greater Shepparton International*
[8] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) bt [6] Ho Ka Hei (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 (25m)
[1] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) bt Andes Ling (HKG) 3-2: 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 4-11, 11-7 (48m)

*Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, July 10*
[8] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) v [1] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS)

*Women’s Semi-Final Results: City of Greater Shepparton International*
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [4] Wai Sze Wing (HKG) 3-2: 11-8, 3-11, 5-11, 11-7, 13-11 (49m)
[3] Toby Tse (HKG) bt [2] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) 3-1: 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7 (29m)

*Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, July 10*
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) v [3] Toby Tse (HKG)