Ding Ning wins third women's singles title, Chinese duo crowned men's doubles champion

Ding Ning (R) of China celebrates victory after the women's singles final match against her compatriot Zhu Yuling at the 2017 World Table Tennis Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany, June 4, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

DUSSELDORF, Germany - World No 1 Ding Ning won her third women's singles title while Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong earned China their second event from the men's doubles at the World Table Tennis Championships on Sunday.

Ding, also the Olympic champion in Rio, defeated third seeded Chinese compatriot Zhu Yuling 4-2 to became the third Chinese woman player to win a hat-trick of world singles title following Deng Yaping and Wang Nan.

The 26-year-old won the first game 11-4 but Zhu, playing her first final in the world championships, pulled two back 11-9, 11-4 for a 2-1 lead.

The two players then displayed a beautiful attacking game. Ding, who won the world title in 2011 and 2015, saved a game point from 9-10, winning three points in a row to make it 2-2.

Zhu, whose only winning record against Ding came in the 2015 China Open final, made too many errors while Ding played steadily and accurately, leading all the way to win 11-6. She went on to take the next game 11-7 to seal the title.

"I came here not expecting to win the World Championships for the third time," Ding said. "It really depended on my state of mind and condition and that of the opponents; different about the third time is that before I felt like I was challenging for the title and trying to defeat others and I am now in the spotlight and others are challenging me."

Ding Ning of China takes a selfie at the podium after winning the women's singles final match against her compatriot Zhu Yuling at the 2017 World Table Tennis Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany, June 4, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]