Liu Shiwen (left) and Xu Xin celebrate a point on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: VCG

 

China's Xu Xin/Liu Shiwen and Japan's Jun Mizutani/Mima Ito won their table tennis mixed doubles semifinals on Sunday to reach the event's first Olympic final.

World No.2 Xu, 31, and world champion Liu, 30, beat French pair Emmanuel Lebesson and Yuan Jianan 4-0.

"From the start to the middle to the end, we took the game to them," Xu told reporters.

"We prepared for difficulties. We didn't think we'll win 4-0," Liu said.

"When we were down 7-10 [in the third game], Xu Xin reminded me to take it one point at a time. We have a trust. The third game was crucial," she said.

Joining them in the final will be Rio 2016 bronze medallist Mizutani, 32, and women's world No.2 Ito.

The Chinese pair surprisingly found themselves in a ­semifinal matchup against a French pair after the latter upset the duo from Hong Kong, China.

Emmanuel Lebesson and Yuan Jianan, a Chinese native who started representing France in 2019, gave the Hong Kong pair, Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem, a tough time in the morning session's quarterfinals, winning 4-3 in one hour and three minutes.