After initially struggling to reach his opponent’s flat shots, Popov found rhythm at 15-15 and did not look back, winning six of the last nine points for a vital advantage in the quarter-final showdown.
As the Frenchman took his foot off the pedal ever so slightly, Loh saw a lifeline back into the match and continued his aggressive approach. This time it paid off: the number four seed conceded just nine points en route to converting his first game point to force a decider.
The final game was as tight as it got, as the scoreline got to 19-19 before Loh played a smart move with a body smash but could not convert two match points, while Popov also missed two chances of his own early on.
Just as the match had been all evening, the momentum swung back and forth up to the 10th match point opportunity and fourth for Popov. Recovering from a deep lob, the Frenchman drew Loh to the net and sealed the deal at last for a terrific victory.