Wang Hao spearheaded the top three seeded Chinese to a flying start as they all booked quarterfinal berths in advance with two straight wins at the opening day of the table tennis men's World Cup on Friday.

 

German top paddler Timo Boll, sidelined at the World Team Cup one week earlier due to a bad cold, also advanced into the last eight with an unbeaten record in the first two matches to highlight his return from illness.

 

Top-seeded Wang Hao survived a scare to win his opening game over Chuan Chih-Yuan from Chinese Taipei.

 

The current world No. one was challenged when he trailed 2-1 before sweating to win his first group A match in six games 13-11, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

 

But he speeded up later in the evening's second round to beat South Korean Olympic Champion Ryu Seung Min 13-15, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

 

"I played too tight at the very beginning against Chuan. It's my first game and I started slowly," Wang said.

 

"Chuan was very aggressive, giving me a lot of pressure. That's why I made too many mistakes in the first three sets.

 

"But I adapted myself to the competition rhythm soon and I played the second match against Ryu much better."

 

In Group B, defending champion Ma Lin was handed a rest after winning the first game 11-4 against South Korea's Joo Se Hyuk, who was forced to retire due to a lower back injury sustained in training three days earlier.

 

However, he had to sweat later before beating Singapore's Gao Ning 12-10, 11-4, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7 in a high class duel.

 

"I relaxed a bit when I was 2-0 up but fortunately I was awakened when he fought to level the score," Ma said.

 

Having winning the tournament in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2006, Ma is aiming for a record fifth title.

 

Joo's withdrawal was a double blow for the crowd. They were denied the chance to watch the exciting skills of the South Korean defender with a powerful forehand topspin as well as the opportunity to see local man Marc Duran in action, who was supposed to clash with Joo in the second round.

 

Compared to his compatriots' twists, Wang Liqin went most smoothly as he won both matches in straight games, beating Argentina's Liu Song 11-5 11-5 11-6 11-8 and then Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus 11-7, 11-6, 11-2, 11-8.

 

In Group D, Boll ended his first day of competition on a high note as he whitewashed Werner Schlager of Austrian 4-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-2, 12-10) before a second easy win in five games over South Korean veteran Oh Sang Eun.

 

The German star was razor sharp from the offset against Oh and finally won 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, giving his opponent minimal time to play his stylish topspin strokes.

 

"I had no great expectations today," said the two-time World Cup winner.

 

"I'm not one hundred percent fit but I felt I had to play here. I'm pleased with my performance. As the match progressed my feeling for the ball improved."

 

Boll was conservative but his coach Richard Prause was delighted.

 

"He was fine. At the moment he needs more matches at this level but today we have seen improvement," Prause said.

 

It has been almost three weeks since Boll's last competitive matches, and he is certainly hungry for victory in Barcelona.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2007)