WTT Star Contender Doha 2025 - 6-11 Jan 2025

[Brs]

You can ask same question about most japanese and chinese players

I searched like ten seconds ...

 

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[ThePongCommenter]

No wonder Groth doesn’t normally make it this far at tournaments like this. He cannot close games

Losing the close games is not always mental - the better players usually win at 8-8 and 9-9 and Harimoto is the better player.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Harimoto needs to prepare extra pairs of underwear from now on.

Mizutani: Freeballing is the way to go.

I understand the Mizutani reference but what did I miss about Harimoto.....

 

[Robin0910]

Losing the close games is not always mental - the better players usually win at 8-8 and 9-9 and Harimoto is the better player.

true, also Harimoto had the last 2 serves in those sets but Groth totally blew that second set. It’s one thing losing the lead being 10-7 up, but not taking a timeout there shows he’s mentally not prepared for these. It could’ve gone differently had he had a coach or Lind with him

 

[zeio]

I understand the Mizutani reference but what did I miss about Harimoto.....

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/fan-steals-fzds-underwear-lol.30955/

 

[ThePongCommenter]

true, also Harimoto had the last 2 serves in those sets but Groth totally blew that second set. It’s one thing losing the lead being 10-7 up, but not taking a timeout there shows he’s mentally not prepared for these. It could’ve gone differently had he had a coach or Lind with him

Second set Harimoto made an unbelievable angle on his block at 10-7, then got a lucky edge at 10-8. Yes Groth missed a good opportunity at 10-9 but I don't think that game came down to a lack of mental preparedness.

It's a bold claim to say he isn't mentally prepared just because he didn't take a timeout in the 2nd game of 7 game match. He likely had a plan and felt in control at 10-7 which he was, but sometimes things just don't work out.

The match came down to a better player executing a little better and one key strategic advantage - Harimoto realized Groth was struggling greatly on the half long serve and receive and TH turned that into a lot of free points or advantages to take control of the point.

Groth plays coachless often.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

The match came down to a better player executing a little better and one key strategic advantage - Harimoto realized Groth was struggling greatly on the half long serve and receive and TH turned that into a lot of free points or advantages to take control of the point.

3rd and 4th game Groth realized he couldn't handle it and just started pushing, but that didn't pose any issues to Harimoto

 

[rpb23]

I searched like ten seconds ...

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Yes, time has changed but some folks' stereotypical view hasn't. Probably never will.

 

[rpb23]

Losing the close games is not always mental - the better players usually win at 8-8 and 9-9 and Harimoto is the better player.

Yes, performing well at critical moments is a big part of the reasons a player is great.

 

[rpb23]

A nice smile from Fan. If a player is so great and achieves so much, winning is normal for him that he doesn't have to express the overjoy side.

 

[NextLevel]

Sometimes, we complain about all Chinese finals but what we got today was a struggle to entertain lol. While I remember a lot of memorable all Chinese finals from even last year lol.

 

[rpb23]

Who said Chinese are emotionless after winning? In Wang Liqin's world champion title match against his teammate Kong, he was in tears after the match. Crying? That is the ultimate form of emotion pouring by an adult male!

 

[NextLevel]

A nice smile from Fan. If a player is so great and achieves so much, winning is normal for him that he doesn't have to express the overjoy side.

He is just trolling the contrast with Sora's expression is obvious.

 

[Miwa]

Yeah, like wtf. when have Japanese fangirls ever been seen in Doha? I also thought they were modest

I think these are Chinese fangirls who happens to cheer for Japanese players.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

The Chinese fangirls overrunning these events are the worst...but you probably have to see it firsthand to truly grasp it.

 

[Robin0910]

I think these are Chinese fangirls who happens to cheer for Japanese players.

Don’t think so, they were cheering hard for Harimoto and Matsushima instead of Xu Yingbin and Xiang Peng yesterday