On Sunday, September 29, the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, New York held its monthly four-star tournament. As usual, the $2,000 first prize in the Open Singles attracted world-class talent. Two-time defending champion Juan Liu, the top-ranked woman in the country with a USATT rating of 2700, was not going to relinquish her title without a fight. Rising to the challenge was former men's singles national champion Yijun Feng. With a USATT rating of 2671, he is currently the ninth-ranked male player in the United States. With nearly equal ratings, the two penholders both boast aggressive topspin attacks from both the traditional forehand side and the modern reverse penhold backhand. For an added twist, Liu takes matters a step further by playing left-handed. In game one, Liu was highly effective in using her serve to set up third-ball attacks, winning easily at 11-6. The second frame saw Feng get his backhand attack in gear, which enabled him to keep pace for most of the game. After marching in lockstep 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, Liu outmaneuvered Feng to set up two game points. On the second try, Liu looped Feng's serve wide to his forehand for the game and a 2-0 lead. In the third game, Feng was down 3-5 as it all seemed to be slipping away from him. Just then he found another gear, modifying his tactics to mount a comeback. Using slow shots with heavy topspin to disrupt Liu's off-the-bounce attack, Feng was able to get his own formidable forehand attack on track, closing the game on an 8-1 run. In the do-or-die fourth game, Feng found some success using a reverse pendulum serve. With the sidespin pulling Liu's returns to Feng's forehand, he was able to tee off and maintain the offense on his service. Unfortunately for Feng, he had to share the service with Liu, who is no slouch with the third-ball attack herself. As these two formidable warriors traded haymakers, the match hung in the balance. In a flashback to game two, the score was again tied 8-all. Again, Liu set herself up with two game (and now match) points. Again, Feng saved one point. Again, Feng long, inviting Liu to loop wide to his forehand. Liu, the reigning U.S. Open champion, added yet another title to her impressive collection. Can anyone stop Juan Liu's reign of terror? Check out the next Westchester Open this October 26-27 to find out!

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