Kanak Jha Claims U.S. Open Men’s Singles Title, Yan Guo Wins Women’s Singles

Las Vegas, Nev. – Kanak Jha secured his first-ever U.S. Open Men’s Singles title with an impressive victory over Ma Jinbao at the 2024 U.S. Open Table Tennis Championships in Las Vegas.

Jha delivered an exceptional performance in the Finals, growing stronger and more confident with each passing game. It began to appear as if every shot he sent across the net was landing on the table. Reflecting on the match, Jha noted the importance of strategy:

"I focused a lot on the service and receive game. He has a really good service, and I neutralized it quite well. The first set was crucial—he had a big lead, but I came back and won. After that, I think I got more confidence throughout the match, and he struggled to adjust to my game,” Jha said.

Dominating rallies early and varying his approach, Jha kept Ma on the defensive from midway through the opening game. Jha's consistency and adaptability led him to a convincing 4-0 victory (11-9, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1). Afterward, he expressed admiration for his opponent:

“I want to say I have a huge amount of respect to Ma Jinbao. He's an amazing person and a fantastic player. He's truly among the best in the world. He's also very young, like myself, so we’ll be carrying the flag for the USA for many years to come,” Jha remarked.

Already a five-time U.S. National Champion and three-time Olympian, Jha adds this prestigious U.S. Open Championship title to his growing list of accomplishments.

In the Women’s Singles final, Yan Guo (CHN) defeated Asuka Sasao (JPN) in a hard-fought 4-2 victory (11-4, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5) to the U.S. Open title.

The match took a pivotal turn in the fourth game when Guo, trailing 2-1, adjusted her tactics by utilizing her exceptional topspin and speed to counter Sasao’s technical play. This shift allowed her to seize control of the match.

Guo's path to victory was far from easy. In the quarterfinals, she overcame World #22 Nina Mittelham (GER) and followed it with a decisive semifinal win over reigning U.S. Open Champion Amy Wang (USA).

Just one year removed from the Chinese Super League, and Guo’s performance led her to a major event gold medal debut U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas.