ITTF WTTC Finals Doha 2025, 5/17-25

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Oh yeah of course, I just mean it is understandable how Kanak could have lacked that extra push as things started going south in the middle of the match.

yep
extra few hours to prepare (or in Kanak's case, recover), makes a big difference.
especially logistical nightmares many of my friends are speaking about and they are forced to prepare/recover less hours to factor in more travel hours.

so, as I said the first day, I won't be surprised when players are loosing when there are not supposed to. The factors is beyond just playing table tennis.

hopefully with lesser matches as the rounds progress, the more breaks in between, and less logistical headaches,,,, the problem will get better.

 

[JackJohnson]

it is true
in this kind of scenario, you only compare singles, because Kanak has a valid point

Kanak had a 18 May, 19:50 match (that finished after 9pm),
then 19 May, 12:30 match

Eduard had a 17 May, 14:00 match.

From my experience, Kanak likely only got back to his hotel after 11pm, sleep, maybe midnight or later.
and if the match is 12:30, he needs to be warming up at 9am already, so up around 7am to be on time (or factor in another 20 mins in case shuttle errors)

We should not take doubles or XD into consideration, as those are your own choice to enter.
but if you enter into singles only, and such early rounds, it is not correct to have last match of the previous day then, a noon match the next day.

So, I feel the pain of Kanak.

No doubt that if a player finishes a match late at night should not have another match first thing in the morning/afternoon I agree with that.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

yep
extra few hours to prepare (or in Kanak's case, recover), makes a big difference.
especially logistical nightmares many of my friends are speaking about and they are forced to prepare/recover less hours to factor in more travel hours.

so, as I said the first day, I won't be surprised when players are loosing when there are not supposed to. The factors is beyond just playing table tennis.

hopefully with lesser matches as the rounds progress, the more breaks in between, and less logistical headaches,,,, the problem will get better.

Another thing I'm not sure if you mentioned but oftentimes the meals served at the hotel are only put out at a certain time. And hotels often are not super close to the venue. So it is easy to miss the designated meal times if your match is scheduled at a certain time and then you are on your own to find something or even not eat. WTT will have maybe some cheap snacks at the players lounge but this obviously isn't sufficient for a world class athlete.

 

[JackJohnson]

Another thing I'm not sure if you mentioned but oftentimes the meals served at the hotel are only put out at a certain time. And hotels often are not super close to the venue. So it is easy to miss the designated meal times if your match is scheduled at a certain time and then you are on your own to find something or even not eat. WTT will have maybe some cheap snacks at the players lounge but this obviously isn't sufficient for a world class athlete.

This is a good point. Will players like Kanak who finishes a late match be allowed to have a full meal at the hotel or does he need to order takeout.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Another thing I'm not sure if you mentioned but oftentimes the meals served at the hotel are only put out at a certain time. And hotels often are not super close to the venue. So it is easy to miss the designated meal times if your match is scheduled at a certain time and then you are on your own to find something or even not eat. WTT will have maybe some cheap snacks at the players lounge but this obviously isn't sufficient for a world class athlete.

I'm sure I've touch on meals before - because this is a really frowning experience, haha. For me, eating in the correct time is very important.

They do have meals at the match hall.

But eating meals is probably not commonly known as a high priority.
preparation of the match is more important.
you may get something light to eat, but most of the time you can only eat afterwards - and you hope, there is still foods left (odd hours).

Taiwanese players bring they own 2 minutes noodle or instant rice to use as emergency.
Japanese brings they own rice cookers.

Take Kanak's example
he would have breakfast at the hotel and leave.
match at 12:30, no ways he is going to eat until 2pm or even 3pm.
and no ways to eat 11am too.
probably some fruits or energy bars at most before the match, but no real meals and will mess up his dinner hours too.

I am against kids eating incorrectly, and in many WTT youth contenders, meal time is poorly planned - should have a lunch hour and everyone eats
I recall a senior WTT recently, there was no food left when the players could eat, and the players resolved to uber eats.

 

[NextLevel]

Please also remember you're quoting a league match that is of little significance. Using a league match to prove a point, man... Remember Kallberg?

You mean Kallberg one of the best players in the world who helped Sweden get a silver and has wins over the likes of Wang Chuqin? Or some other Kallberg?

While many players have a preference for one or the other and league matches are not WTT/ITTF matches, the idea they are meaningless is ludicrous if you actually speak to the players and know their pressures to perform.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

This is a good point. Will players like Kanak who finishes a late match be allowed to have a full meal at the hotel or does he need to order takeout.

The latter, they won't be serving meals in the hotel near 10pm, so now you have just played a backbreaking 7 gamer, made the trek back to the hotel, are probably physically and mentally exhausted, and you need to find something that is still open for food at that hour which depending on your city won't be plentiful or healthy options, and now you are eating right before you need to sleep for 6-7 hours to start the process again...

 

[ThePongCommenter]

While many players have a preference for one or the other and league matches are not WTT/ITTF matches, the idea they are meaningless is ludicrous if you actually speak to the players and know their pressures to perform.

I know a very big name European player who pretty much solely prioritizes league matches, WTT is just a cherry on top, and he's not the only one

 

[NextLevel]

I know a very big name European player who pretty much solely prioritizes league matches, WTT is just a cherry on top, and he's not the only one

Of course, many more than one, it is easy to forget that leagues are the most consistent and important sources of income for most players especially those who aren't the faces of tlan equipment sponsor. And if you do not perform up to the requirements od your contract, they look for someone to replace you. Obviously this isnt true for every player and maybe thr matches are meaningless to Asian players who are hired as foreigners but you never heard Mizutani speak that way, and i have spoken to professionals who talked about the pressures of underperformed in league play and the implications for their mental sanity.

 

[Bollwerk]

Winter after her and Wan's win over CXT/QTY:

We had a similar situation 3 weeks ago against the world number ones Satsuki Odo and Sakura Yokoi (Contender Tunis, 2:3 defeat, 11:13 in the 5th). In hindsight, that match was very, very, very important for us because we saw that we can do something even against the very best.
Of course, the fact that I have the Anti changes the game. The whole thing is a bit more unorthodox now. Yuan often gets balls she can go full power on, which she does brilliantly. She is uncompromising, I can then continue to play a lot with my forehand or disrupt with the anti from time to time. We were annoyed in Tunisia, of course, because we had match point and I didn't hit a forehand that I could sometimes hit. We were on the verge of victory. Afterwards I said to her: “It doesn't matter now, we'll make it at the World Championships! I actually thought about that today at 9:9 and 10:9 and said to her: 'We said we'd do it here and then we'll do it!' I'm very happy it worked out that way.

 

[joshmak10]

Habesohn rolls over Kenji 5,5,7,9. Oof...

Sora and Uda shaking their heads

 

[NextLevel]

 

[blahness]

Unwatchable tournament sorry, Pink tables + side angle ???!!

Badminton and tennis are way more fun to watch than this crap.

 

[FIXPOINT]

WTTC Finals Doha 2025 WD R32

You can find information about other categories on the following sites.
ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2019 - 2025
ITTF 世界卓球選手権大会ファイナルズ 2019 – 2025

 

[turbozed]

Chinese women’s doubles pair out. Chen Xington and Qiann Tianyi. 9-11 in the last set against the germain pair. That last pont was amazing, fitting point to win the match. Sabine’s forehand is insane in the women’s game. Very good for double.

That last point was really crazy. Both Sabine and Wan had to hit the ground in order to make their shots. Wan had to do it twice lol.

But the point right before that at 9-9 was crazy too. Sabine falling sideways and backwards because she was way out of position still found a way to make the FH loop. Sabine FH skill is absolutely amazing.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

 

[ThePongCommenter]

The way the camera starts zooming in as closely as possible when he starts tearing up... sad but funny

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

The way the camera starts zooming in as closely as possible when he starts tearing up... sad but funny

Japanese like drama

 

[lightspin]

Kenji missed a lot of serves. It makes me wonder if his racked was "inspected" by the referees taking the rubber off.

 

[NextLevel]

Japanese like drama

Anyone have video of the match he beat Sora in to qualify? I am still trying to understand how this happened lol...