Davies through to second Paralympic final

Rob Davies produced another great performance to reach the final of the men’s class 1 singles at the South Paris Arena 4 this evening, but Aaron McKibbin went out of men’s class 8 after a quarterfinal defeat to the three-time Paralympic champion from China.

Davies and Endre Major have had some great battles in the past with the Hungarian World number four winning their most recent two matches including the final of the European Championships last September which denied Davies a fifth consecutive title.

The Welshman started well today, taking the first two sets 11-6 11-6 but Major came back to take the third 11-9. Davies led 7-2 in the fourth, but Major is a great competitor and drew level at 7-7 with some clever play. Davies had two match points at 10-8 but Major saved them both and then had three set points which Davies saved. Another match point came and went before Davies finally put away a smash to clinch the set 16-14 and the match 3-1.

“It feels pretty awesome (to beat Major) to be honest,” said Davies. “We’ve got a lot of respect for each other, but this is the time to do it I guess and I’m just thankful that I did manage to do it. It was a battle, and I had to fight all the time for every point. I seemed to get a little bit more composure this time as opposed to the previous match, but it would have been nice to have finished it in three all the same.

“It was really important to make a good start as Major is the European champion and he beat me in the final. We know he’s got quality and he’s a difficult player to beat and I’m just glad I had the right tactics and got it right.  Speaking to Rushy (coach Andrew Rushton) we practiced what we needed to do, and I came through luckily.

“In the fourth set it was a case of just doing what you can for the next point and when he got the serve, I had to make sure I got a good return back to him - just one point at a time. That’s what we’re here for - those pressure moments – and I do like them I’ve got to admit so I enjoyed it. I’ve obviously got to prepare now for the final and I’ll look forward to that.”

After winning gold in Rio Davies was unable to defend his title in Tokyo due to injury and has worked hard to get back to form and fitness.

“I just didn’t think I’d be here before coming out to be honest,” he said. “Everybody said they had confidence in me and I could do it still. I’ve had a tough few years and I haven’t really got to that level where I want to be - I still probably haven’t - but I had enough today and I’ve got to try and do that again on final day.”

Davies will play Yunier Fernandez from Cuba in the final on Friday.

McKibbin had never beaten Zhao Shuai in five previous matches and the World number four from China was in top form today in a 11-4 11-5 11-8 win.

“He’s obviously a very strong player,” said McKibbin, “and I’d be shocked if he doesn’t win these Games. He’s very good and the disappointing thing for me is that I didn’t feel that I put him under enough pressure to be able to get him nervous and make him bring out his level. I feel that he was giving me the balls that I wanted, and I wasn’t taking them on. I wasn’t playing the right shots, and I was too tentative.

“It’s tough because I’ve had such a good few years and I feel like I came here ready to perform and show what I can do. I don’t think I’ve played badly and credit to Zhao he’s been winning for many years and as I say I’d be surprised if he doesn’t win it again.

“To be honest in the last two years I’ve improved so much - my level in all competitions has been strong and I was coming here looking to win a medal. It’s my first major in a long time that I haven’t won a medal which is a weird thing because I’d say I’m at the best I’ve ever been now and the level I won medals at previously I was playing worse than now so it’s a bit bittersweet to say I’m up here now, but I’ve not won a medal.

“I’ve got to be realistic and say it is not always about the medals. I’ve done my best and I’m very proud of what I’ve done over the last couple of years, and I think there is still more to come. I don’t think it’s the end - I’m still in the mix. Just because you don’t win a medal at one major doesn’t mean you’re a bad player and I’ve proved this year that I am one of the best in the world. There are only four medals in a tournament, so someone’s got to be disappointed.”