Liang En-Shuo and Partner Shuko Aoyama Advance to Libema Open Final, Chasing First WTA Title

Central News Agency Report

(CNA reporter Chen Jung-chen, Taipei, June 12) At the WTA Libema Open held in the Netherlands, Taiwan's 'Little Powerhouse' Liang En-Shuo advanced to the women's doubles final today alongside her Japanese partner Shuko Aoyama, after their opponents withdrew due to injury. Liang is now poised to pursue her first WTA Tour championship title.

The Libema Open is a WTA 250-level tournament. Standing at 158 cm, Liang partnered with 154 cm Japanese player Shuko Aoyama to form the 'Ground Tiger Duo,' continuing their surprising run after reaching the women's doubles semifinals at the French Open. At this tournament, they advanced steadily, and today secured their place in the final after their opponents retired.

In this match, Liang and Aoyama faced the Czech player Anastasia Detiuc and Russian star Irina Khromacheva. In the first set, both sides engaged in a 'break battle,' but the 'Taiwan-Japan alliance' stabilized in time, holding their crucial service games to take the first set 6-4.

With a lead in hand, Liang and Aoyama maintained their strong performance in the second set. Despite brief rain interruptions, they remained unaffected. Their opponents 'helped' with three double faults, allowing the 'Taiwan-Japan pair' to break serve three times, building a 4-1 lead. Ultimately, their opponents chose to retire, securing Liang and Aoyama's passage to the final.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's women's doubles fourth seeds Wu Fang-hsien and her Japanese partner Eri Hozumi were defeated in the semifinals by Estonia's Ingrid Neel and Mexico's Giuliana Olmos, 6-7 (1-7), 2-6, missing the chance for an alternative 'Taiwanese internal clash' in the final. (Edited by Chen Cheng-chien) 1150612