Singles: Lily Zhang (USA) against Guilia Takahashi (BRA) in the women's singles quarterfinals at the ITTF Pan American Cup 2025 at 888 Table Tennis Center in Burlingame, Calif. Feb. 22, 2025.
Burlingame, Calif. – Kanak Jha, Lily Zhang and Amy Wang have made it into semifinals at the ITFF Pan American Cup 2025. In doing so, they have also qualified for the ITTF World Cup Macao this April. The three U.S. stars are excited at the chance to compete in Macao China later this year, but as the Pan American Cup enters the final day of competition today at 2p.m. PT, they have their eyes set on winning the Pan American Cup after making it through the quaterfinals.
Lily Zhang defeated Guilia Takahashi (BRA) to victory at 4-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-7) to reach the women’s singles semifinals. The two have faced each other just once before during the 2022 Pan American Championships Finals women’s team event when Zhang won her singular match against Takahashi. The advantage remained in Zhang’s favor last night in front of the Bay Area home crowd.
“I always love playing at home because, you know, my friends and family can come support me, cheer for me. I really feel like, they're there with me out there on the court, especially in tough moments,” said Zhang after the match.
By the end of games one and two, the extra motivation of playing at home was evident. Zhang was in complete control. Dominant on her short serves, switching up the rhythm play, and adding a bit more spin than Takahashi could handle.
In a complete flip, Lily Zhang advances to play Mo Zhang (CAN) this afternoon at 2:50 p.m. PT in the 2025 ITTF Pan American Cup semifinals. It will be their sixteenth match against one another with a considerable focus on execution during their match.
After making the next in the Pan American Cup, Lily Zhang, Mo Zhang, and each of the other
Brianna Burgos (PUR) stood between Amy Wang and the next round and a trip to Macao. The two went head-to-head for the first time since 2021. Wang was able to capitalize on Burgos’ mistakes to get the victory in five games at 4-1. The win sends Amy Wang into the women’s semifinals towards a rematch of last year’s finals between her and Bruna Takahashi (BRA). Their match today is set for 4 p.m. PT where each of them will attempt to get into the finals for the second consecutive year.
Kanak Jha was opposite Santiago Lorenzo (ARG) in the men’s singles quarterfinals. Jha came in with the mental advantage having previously won each of his five matchups with Lorenzo. Regardless, neither player had met at the table since 2022. In the first game, they sparred with one another, but by the second game, the match was Jha’s for the taking. Jha ran off four straight games to defeat Lorenzo and seal his appearance in the men’s singles semifinals. He moves on to face Eric Jouti (BRA) today at 2 p.m. PT.
In his first Pan American Cup, Nandan Naresh finished in the top eight after running into Horacio Cifuentes (ARG). At just eighteen years old Naresh displayed flashes of brilliance throughout the event, notably defeating world no. 52 Ishiy Vitor (BRA) in the previous round. Despite this, his efforts were not enough to overcome the Argentinian's athleticism, losing 4-0 (11-4, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7). Horacio Cifuentes will play Eugene Wang in the semifinals today at 3:40 p.m. PT.
Watch live coverage of Pan American Cup Semifinals and Finals from 888 Table Tennis Club in Burlingame, Calif. on the USATT Website and YouTube Channel.
