CHINA MASTERS 2013 – More local stars withdraw

After the withdrawal of four top women on the eve of the tournament, the Adidas China Masters Superseries got an even bigger hit as action began in the main draw today.  No fewer than four top ten entries from China withdrew from the event without playing their first round matches.   Wang Yihan, Wang Shixian, Fu Haifeng, and Chen Long,  all but one of them former world #1’s, were all in action in the China National Games until yesterday but will not be seen in action in Changzhou.  They were joined by Macau Open runner-up and Canada Open champion Yu Xiaohan, and also by Asian Junior Champion Huang Dongping, who was not involved in the recent matches in the National Games.

Several other players who played in Liaoning yesterday, including women’s singles gold and silver medallists Li Xuerui and Liu Xin respectively, made the trip south and promptly won their opening matches in Changzhou.  Others, including men’s singles silver medallist Du Pengyu, have had their first round matches specially postponed until Thursday.