Just like he did in 2021, Quadri Aruna played his best match at the WTT Finals Doha 2023 after stunning Brazil’s Hugo Calderano to qualify for the quarterfinal of the year-ending championships taking place in Qatar.
In 2021, it was China’s Jiang Lingkun that was stunned by the Nigerian and this time it was the South American star that tasted his first defeat against the African champion at the Infinity Arena.
Aruna was on the brink of a third consecutive defeat against the Brazilian but the Nigerian turned things around to qualify for his second quarterfinal of the WTT Finals.
Just like it happened in their previous meetings, the Brazilian star raced to a lead with a 2-0 (11-7, 11-2) win over Aruna but the African champion silenced the roaring supporters of the South American champion in the third game with 11-9 win to narrow the gap to 2-1.
Aruna continued from where he stopped in the third game with a close 12-10 win to put the game into a 2-2 tie.
The fifth game being the deciding encounter started in favour of Aruna who led from the start leading 8-4 but the South American worked his way back into the game at 8-8. He took the lead at 9-8, 10-9, but the ferocious forehand of Aruna did the magic for the Nigerian as his shots dazed Calderano to concede the fifth game at 12-10 being the first victory Aruna had over the American star.
“I cannot describe how it feels. But I’m very happy and excited,” a delighted Aruna said after the epic victory.
The Nigerian who was coached by Tunisia’s Hachmi Abid hailed the tactician for his support throughout the encounter. “My coach was telling don’t give up and keep fighting. One set could actually make a difference and it did make a big difference. I listen to him very much. I believe so much in him and I was just doing what he told me to do,” he added.
The win eased Aruna into the quarterfinal of the $340,000 prize money tournament and a rematch against world number one Fan Zhendong of China on Thursday January 4.
“I’ve never had a win against Fan Zhendong … I believe I can give my best tomorrow and see how it will go. It’s very important to enjoy it,” Aruna enthused.