WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2024 06/11-16

[pongfugrasshopper]

Miyu Nagasaki's birthday on Saturday 6/15. She turns 22. Miwa's birthday on 6/16. She turns 16. Happy birthday to both!

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

This is the 2nd time this year that Mima Ito has played Ni Xia Lian. And this is the 2nd time Mima won 3-0 this time 11-1 in the 3rd. After the last point in both matches, Ni Xia Lian shows a great deal of respect to Mima Ito. Whatever you think of Mima, this is the type of respect Mima gets from the tour's most senior member because of her intelligent play. Here's the last point and more importantly, the following handshake:

 

[Shine]

This is the 2nd time this year that Mima Ito has played Ni Xia Lian. And this is the 2nd time Mima won 3-0 this time 11-1 in the 3rd. After the last point in both matches, Ni Xia Lian shows a great deal of respect to Mima Ito. Whatever you think of Mima, this is the type of respect Mima gets from the tour's most senior member because of her intelligent play. Here's the last point and more importantly, the following handshake:

Nice win by Mima
But Grandma Ni has always been a good sport to everyone, always graceful and charming in defeat.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

This is the 2nd time this year that Mima Ito has played Ni Xia Lian. And this is the 2nd time Mima won 3-0 this time 11-1 in the 3rd. After the last point in both matches, Ni Xia Lian shows a great deal of respect to Mima Ito. Whatever you think of Mima, this is the type of respect Mima gets from the tour's most senior member because of her intelligent play. Here's the last point and more importantly, the following handshake:

I wonder when they will call Granny Ni to retire, especially retiree candidate can beat her so easily🙈

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Lots of revenge matches today:
Pavade - Ito (I think Ito was up something like 2-0, 9-3)
Hayata - Lily Zhang
Kihara - JJH
Miwa - Joo Cheonhui

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Lots of revenge matches today:
Pavade - Ito (I think Ito was up something like 2-0, 9-3)

you are right

then the LGY syndrome kicked in

 

[AutomaticBackhand]

Amazing Battle between Gerassimenko and Ovtcharov!

2-3 and 11-13 for Ovtcharov in the last Set.

Kirill was emotionally taken away in the end after making some unforced errors, that were well provoked by Ovtcharov.
2 Aces in Deuce and 1 long push point.

Many long and thrilling rally exchanges as well.

 

[NextLevel]

Lots of revenge matches today:
Pavade - Ito (I think Ito was up something like 2-0, 9-3)
Hayata - Lily Zhang
Kihara - JJH
Miwa - Joo Cheonhui

Looks like the revenge candidates are not getting their revenge so far....

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

SYB 3 - 1 Nagasaki. Well, I guess Hayata gave Miyu Nagasaki an early birthday present in Rio. At least she got the WD Championship in this tournament with her bestie.

 

[NextLevel]

Looks like the Koreans came prepared to fight the Japanese women today.

 

[NextLevel]

Kihara windmill inside out forehand to finish the match. Not common in the women's game or at that level.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Miwa and Miyuu withstood a strong challenge from their S. Korean opponents. Whew!

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

so many great matches already in this event

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Mima lost again to Prithika !!!!

please retire Mima !

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

I don't think the stats tell the whole story. Shinozuka has played more Feeders so his percentages are going to be higher. Togami still deserves the #2 spot as he has had some really good wins too don't forget: Tomo, LSD, LJH, CSD, Hugo ... but as we've seen he's not exactly the most adaptable.

This one is a tough call though. Sora's ceiling might be the highest of all the Japanese men. But his floor is shaky. Sora has good doubles skills as he and Miwa actually beat Tomo/Hayata at Contender Muscat. But his aloofness and negativity can affect his partner when things aren't going their way. If he could clean up that aspect and just be more supportive, he would be so much more valuable as a team member. You can see he has a lot of self confidence, an area that Shinozuka needs to work on. I expect to see him in LA 2028 as his floor should be raised by then.

Sora played a good match against Qiu Dang. i hope he can confirm against Cho next

 

[NextLevel]

Timo defaults to Felix as far as I can see. Should this man be really playing the Olympics? Franziska doesn't help his cause by losing to Cho but since Dang also lost to Sora, I guess there is balance in the force somewhere. And Dima barely defeats Kiril who will be an absolute nightmare for anyone who is unlucky to get him in their Olympics draw.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

 

[NextLevel]

Looks like the revenge candidates are not getting their revenge so far....

Looks like no one got revenge from their last match. Pavade more than anyone else confirmed that she knows how to serve Ito off the table (Ito couldn't get errors from Pavade surprisingly) and that her forehand can damage Ito when Ito lets the ball sit. Got to a point Ito started missing serves trying to invent new stuff to fool Pavade to no avail.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Looks like no one got revenge from their last match. Pavade more than anyone else confirmed that she knows how to serve Ito off the table (Ito couldn't get errors from Pavade surprisingly) and that her forehand can damage Ito when Ito lets the ball sit. Got to a point Ito started missing serves trying to invent new stuff to fool Pavade to no avail.

Pavade is a future European champion in the making. Spin oriented, powerful, good touch, good serves and serve variation. It's just a matter of time.

 

[NextLevel]

Pavade is a future European champion in the making. Spin oriented, powerful, good touch, good serves and serve variation. It's just a matter of time.

This has been evident for a while but her poor backhand slowed her progress - she is much better with it now. As a pure athlete though, none of the players have anything on her.