World No.1 paddler Ma Long reaches final in Rio 2016

Ma Long of China celebrates a point during play against Jun Mizutani of Japan during the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil, Aug 11, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO - Table tennis world No. 1 Ma Long overcame a late stumble to beat sixth-ranked Japanese Jun Mizutani 4-2 and made the men' s singles final on Thursday at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Leading 3-0 on sets, the 27-year-old Ma trailed 4-8 in the fourth set with several extra high-level forehand hits from Mizutani.

Nailing three points in a row to narrow the gap to 7-8, Ma seemed confident to launch a comeback to seal the victory, but failed to resist his rival's top spin attack and lost it 11-7.

Almost the same process repeated in the following set, which Ma was edged 12-10, but the world championships and World Cup title holder took back control of the game in the sixth and nipped it 11-5 to round up the semifinal clash.

Later on Thursday, Ma's fellow Chinese Zhang Jike, the Grand Slam winner and defending champion here, will meet 40-year-old Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus.