Fan Zhendong and Ma Long withdraw from the WTT circuit finals

End of reign in sight? Chinese stars Fan Zhendong, 27, and Ma Long, 36, have withdrawn from the WTT circuit finals, which begin in a week in Fukuoka, Japan. They will be replaced by the German Benedikt Duda, vice-European champion, and the Swede Anton Kallberg, finalist in Frankfurt on Sunday. Félix Lebrun, world No. 4, will therefore be seeded No. 3 (out of 4) in Fukuoka, where four Chinese players are still involved, including Wang Chuqin, world No. 1 who is losing momentum, and Lin Shidong, no. 2 on the rise.