China Smash 2024, Beijing, 9/26-10/6

[blahness]

LSD needs to somehow simplify the game to get an advantage over Ma Long. Just way too much complexity. Just chiquita as much as possible and get into a topspin rally ASAP. This cat and mouse push + opening loop game is what Ma Long loves.

Unfortunate that LSD doesnt have a coach this time...

 

[AutomaticBackhand]

Liu Guoliang nodding:

"Yes, that's my boy!"

 

[AutomaticBackhand]

Ma Long breaks LSD at 13-13 after winning the first point off his serve after 3 attempts.

LSD ran out of tactics and was relying on opening with his backhand and having an advantage in the rally.

 

[dingyibvs]

LSD needs to somehow simplify the game to get an advantage over Ma Long. Just way too much complexity. Just chiquita as much as possible and get into a topspin rally ASAP. This cat and mouse push + opening loop game is what Ma Long loves.

Unfortunate that LSD doesnt have a coach this time...

ML caught him with 2 straight aces with long serves, that's what's keeping him from being too aggressive with receives.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

to think about it, Ma long was already in CNT 1st team before LSD was even born
almost old enough to be his dad

 

[blahness]

ML caught him with 2 straight aces with long serves, that's what's keeping him from being too aggressive with receives.

Yep I saw that, but that doesnt mean he cant chiquita, and Ma Long aint gonna serve long all day long. Even if sometimes you take the chiquita a bit later you can spin it a bit more. He is losing hard in the short push - 1st attack battle against Ma Long. A bit of inexperience there imo...

But LSD is kinda stubborn, he is still short pushing almost all the short serves.

 

[dingyibvs]

Yep I saw that, but that doesnt mean he cant chiquita, and Ma Long aint gonna serve long all day long. He is losing hard in the short push - 1st attack battle against Ma Long. A bit of inexperience there imo...

But LSD is kinda stubborn, he is still short pushing almost all the short serves.

He actually wins his fair share in the short push game, his BH opening loop is his bread winner thus far. He's scored just about as many off his BH flick as he's lost in receiving long services.

 

[blahness]

He actually wins his fair share in the short push game, his BH opening loop is his bread winner thus far. He's scored just about as many off his BH flick as he's lost in receiving long services.

Yeah, a bit surprising that LSD is actually quite good in the short game, must have been some serious short push training with the coaches. He actually doesnt really favour the chiquita so much even as a BH dominant player - this is quite interesting.

 

[blahness]

Not sure why Ma Long dropped in intensity so much in the last 2 games. Fatigue??!

 

[dingyibvs]

Look like ML is just conserving his energy for game 7 when he gets down by a few points in games 5 and 6.

 

[backspacer]

I'm surprised ML isn't using another serve.

 

[AutomaticBackhand]

I think people forgot that Ma Longs playstyle developed as a counter-style to the modern style of ZJK's/FZD's backhand oriented rally-game.

And LSD is a further developed variation of that.

ML knows that game in and out - all it's weaknesses and strengths.
Which kind of serves, receives, opening loops work etc. .

Barely anyone plays BH-BH rallies like Ma Long.
His forehand opening loops are unmatched, imo, you can also see it in this match.


In-form Ma Long was basically unbeatable - and he was barely off-form.
Only in-form FZD, ZJK and XX were significant threats to him.

And he never had it "easy" against them.

Today, we have an in-form LSD against a 80% in-form Ma Long.


LSD's young energy and at the same time slight in-experience are becoming appareant, imo.

This BO7 and tournament overall shows that.

Ma Long almost always finds a way.

 

[backspacer]

The dragon is rising like a phoenix after two weak games.

 

[Robin0910]

Well, he was conserving his energy. Now he keeps serving to LSD’s fh

 

[blahness]

Ma Long getting tired again.... now it's the final few points. Let's see what tricks he has left in his bag, or is LSD just gonna outlast via better endurance lol

 

[Robin0910]

I wonder why ML hasn’t called a timeout

 

[backspacer]

NOOOOOOOOO

 

[Janard]

Lol at the relatively quiet crowd after LSD won.

 

[AutomaticBackhand]

 

[dingyibvs]

Congrats to LSD, what a comeback! Think ML just ran out of gas a bit at the end, but what nerves to mount a comeback against the GOAT in game 7!