WTT Singapore Smash 2024 3/7-3/17

[zeio]

MS R16
CDS 2-3 QD

 

[Shine]

MS R16
CDS 2-3 QD

I wanted to see a possible matchup between him and WCQ! Bummer!!

 

[Shine]

Yup, 8:5 was very crucial. Calling TO after that point and then losing the game is worse than calling TO in the final game as your mind still lingers on what could've been.

The positive side is that Hirano, the one under higher pressure, suppressed Ito both technically and tactically, especially the latter, after dropping G1, in which she had a good start. There have been quite a few instances in this Olympic cycle where Hirano could've won in straight games but ultimately lost.

As I've predicted, Ito has turned into Ishikawa, only getting in the way of teammates.

WTTC 2021
R16 Hirano 2-1 -> 3-4 CM (could've been 3-0)
WTT SCT Goa 2023
SF Hirano 2-0 -> 2-3 CIC
Asian Games 2022
WT F Hirano 2-0 -> 2-3 CM

Or Maybe Hirano has problems with keeping a lead??

 

[zeio]

Or Maybe Hirano has problems with keeping a lead??

But then she wouldn't have won in the other instances.

On whether they intentionally lost to Deng Yaping and Ding Ning in the Olympic WS F respectively, Chen Jing and Li Xiaoxia have mentioned in interviews that they somehow lost focus after leading.

Lion Cup 2022
QF Hirano 2-4 Kihara
Asian Games 2022 Selection Trial
F Hirano 4-0 Kihara
Zennoh Cup 2022 Funabashi
QF Hirano 4-0 Ito
Nojima Cup 2023
F Hirano 2-0 -> 2-3 -> 4-3 Ito (Ito was leading 8:4 in G7)
Zennoh Cup 2023 Tokyo
SF Hirano 3-1 -> 3-4 Ito (Ito had an edge at 9:10 of G7)
3rd-4th Hirano 2-1 -> 2-3 -> 4-3 Odo
Zennoh Cup 2023 Osaka
5th-8th Hirano 4-0 Ito
5th-6th Hirano 3-4 Odo
Zennihon Takkyu 2024
R16 Ito 3-1 -> 3-4 Kimura (Ito had 2 match points at 10:8 of G5)
QF Hirano 4-0 Odo

WTT Singapore Smash 2023
R32 Hirano 2-0 -> 3-2 WYD (WYD had a game point at 10:9 of G5 after a dead net but proceeded to lose 10:12)
R16 Hirano 1-0 -> 1-2 -> 2-3 Zhang Rui
WTT CT Zagreb 2023
F Hirano 0-2 -> 1-2 -> 2-3 -> 4-3 SYS (Hirano led from start to finish in G7)
WTTC 2024
Hirano 3-0 WYD

 

[Shine]

I think it happens to everyone anyway ( relinquishing a huge lead). Everyone has bad days, and bad days often come in that form.

 

[zeio]

One thing that is pretty certain at this point, it happens a lot more with the bo5 format.

 

[zeio]

XD SF
LJH/SYB 3-1 Harimoto/Hayata (-7, 9, 6, 5)
G2 05, 119

What's left of JNT at this point? Coach Ito, cheerleaders Kihara/Joo Cheonhui, good-for-nothing Togami/Shinozuka?

It's difficult to convince myself that Miwa can recover in 2 weeks after WTTC 2024.

 

[NextLevel]

Going backhand to backhand against LJK isn't a great idea. Doesn't even work for FZD, and it didn't work for Harimoto.

His forehand isn't goo's enough yet for the alternative.

 

[driversbeat]

XD SF
LJH/SYB 3-1 Harimoto/Hayata (-7, 9, 6, 5)
G2 05, 119

What's left of JNT at this point? Coach Ito, cheerleaders Kihara/Joo Cheonhui, good-for-nothing Togami/Shinozuka?

It's difficult to convince myself that Miwa can recover in 2 weeks after WTTC 2024.

*Chance to defeat WMY appears*

Hayata: No you
Hirano: No you
Ito: WR1 HERE I COME

 

[Shine]

His forehand isn't goo's enough yet for the alternative.

I think his forehand is good enough, at least he used it well against the Chinese in some of his famous scalps. I don't see his forehand ever becoming like Wang Liqin's or even prime Ma Long, but right now, it's good enough to stay close to the top, and it can probably get good enough to become the undisputed number 1 in a couple of years. But that's a big can.

He just needs to skilfully use his backhand and first couple of touches to bring LJK out of position, and then use his forehand to finish the point. Maybe trying more parallels for his first attack/counter in the rally like he's used to perfection against Fan/Ma in the past. But if he wants to stubbornly prove himself in the BH Vs BH rallies before switching to FH occasionally against the guy with the sturdiest frame and the spinny BH, It may get him some close results like in the WTTC or today, but the end result would often fall short.

 

[NextLevel]

I think his forehand is good enough, at least he used it well against the Chinese in some of his famous scalps. I don't see his forehand ever becoming like Wang Liqin's or even prime Ma Long, but right now, it's good enough to stay close to the top, and it can probably get good enough to become the undisputed number 1 in a couple of years. But that's a big can.

He just needs to skilfully use his backhand and first couple of touches to bring LJK out of position, and then use his forehand to finish the point. Maybe trying more parallels for his first attack/counter in the rally like he's used to perfection against Fan/Ma in the past. But if he wants to stubbornly prove himself in the BH Vs BH rallies before switching to FH occasionally against the guy with the sturdiest frame and the spinny BH, It may get him some close results like in the WTTC or today, but the end result would often fall short.

I watched the match and maybe I might have s different opinion watching the replays, but he got burned a lot when he switched to the forehand. I felt his real problem was that at a certain point, he just got into trouble with the level of spin/speed in the rallies no matter where he put the ball. I know backhand rallying is not quite the answer, but switching early isn't quite the answer either. And I think his biggest problem was that he ran out of stuff that he could serve that LJK couldn't attack early and viciously, if he had countered more of those openings, he would have done much better.

 

[Shine]

I watched the match and maybe I might have s different opinion watching the replays, but he got burned a lot when he switched to the forehand. I felt his real problem was that at a certain point, he just got into trouble with the level of spin/speed in the rallies no matter where he put the ball. I know backhand rallying is not quite the answer, but switching early isn't quite the answer either. And I think his biggest problem was that he ran out of stuff that he could serve that LJK couldn't attack early and viciously, if he had countered more of those openings, he would have done much better.

TT is fast becoming a server's dilemma. Whoever has the best chiquita or first attack on that day wins.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

There Kihara goes again showing off her doubles skill with yet another doubles partner. This time teaming up with Joo to beat SYB/JJH 3-1.

 

[Shine]

TH is actually progressing really well. It's not all doom and gloom. I did a quick tally of his matchups against the top 5 Chinese players ( FZD, WCQ, ML, LJK, LGY) and he has about 28.9 ~ 30% win rate. He's dead equal against LGY, Near equal to FZD and ML. Particularly weak against WCQ and LJK.

So it seems whenever he meets LJK, the big fatty always has another gear that shuts him down. Today was just one of those days.
I think once ML retires, and LSD joins the fray, the winning rate should increase. Over the years, he should score more wins too. 2028 might just be the year when he finally reaches his top power level, but I think he'll fancy FZD in his quarter/half in the Olympics.

 

[NextLevel]

If they don't do something about serves, there is absolutely no one other than Fan Zhendong and maybe Lin Yun Ju that has a chance against WCQ. This is ridiculous.

 

[zeio]

Moregard will retire with the best result as WTTC 2021 runner-up at this rate. He hasn't improved technically at all, relying on nothing but tricks just like Ito.

 

[backspacer]

SYS destroying Miwa right now.

 

[Emin]

WCQ is Truls his Kryptonite.
I still think that Truls is overrated and that his playstyle and his ability to play his playstyle so well makes him win so many games,
especially against non-Chinese and mostly non-Asian players.

He can deny 3rd Ball Attacks quite well from most non-Chinese players by keeping the receives relatively short and low, compared to others.
He has good Topspin Serves where many people are too afraid to attack them or are unable to deny his 3rd Ball Attack and it ends up giving him free points.
He can anticipate and counter block/punch which many people are not trained well against.
Just to name a few things.

Imo, He has gotten almost the maximum out of his playstyle.
It shows how good and effective it can be, but it also shows its big downside.
Against the chinese players and their solid and effective playstyle, it has no merit and he always looks like he has no chance.
They just beat him up and dont get challenged or need to step it up.

Yes, Truls beats most Europeans and a lot of Asians and thats it.
Players like Ovtcharov, Dang, Harimoto, LYJ, Felix etc. are much bigger threats to the CNT and are more serious contenders for the bigger titles than Truls is.
European and WTT Tournaments without the CNT and some other big names, sure Truls is strong.
But not much more than that.

I am not hating on Truls or saying that he is a bad player.
Simply saying that he and his playstyle are not suitable to challenge anything at the very top level and that continuing to "train harder" in that sense wont get him much further than he currently is.

All copyrights are due under my humble opinion, open for discussion.

 

[zeio]

If they don't do something about serves, there is absolutely no one other than Fan Zhendong and maybe Lin Yun Ju that has a chance against WCQ. This is ridiculous.

LYJ: Before the serve, do me a favor and ban WCT, LJH and F. Lebrun first...

 

[Emin]

Even Adam Bobrow talked a little critically about WCQs serves without saying it right away.
Only describing how Truls was complaining and how he was probably unable to see the Ball contact etc. .
Not outright saying anything that could get him in trouble ofc.