Liu H. beat Demin Y. 6-3, 6-3 in Guangzhou, converting two break points in the opening set and adding two more breaks in the second. Demin won more service points overall (34 to 26) and hit 10 aces to Liu's one, but he was picked apart on return, taking just 9 receiver points to Liu's 25.
Liu broke in the fifth game of the first set for 3-2 and again in the ninth to close it out 6-3, backed by a flawless 13/13 on first-serve points in that set. Demin hit back immediately at the start of the second, breaking in the opening game for 0-1, but Liu levelled with a break for 3-3 and broke again in the eighth game to lead 5-3 before serving it out.
The decisive number was first-serve efficiency: Liu landed 27 of 35 first serves (77%) and won 81% of those points, against 66% for Demin. Demin saved seven of nine break points across the match, yet the two he missed in the first set and the two Liu took in the second were enough.