National Games of China 2025, 11/9-21, Guangdong/Hong Kong/Macao

[dingyibvs]

Interesting strategy by Beijing to go with HYZ/ML for doubles.

 

[dingyibvs]

Interesting strategy by Beijing to go with HYZ/ML for doubles.

Well, it worked out for them. Not guaranteed a win obviously but now they just need to win the WCQ vs XX and ML vs ZK matches and let FZD win his.

 

[Robin0910]

Did WCQ really just bang his head in the table after the final point against Fan Zhendong?

 

[fore.n.back]

Did WCQ really just bang his head in the table after the final point against Fan Zhendong?

Yeah, even the banging sound was caught on mic, you know it hurts to chase 3 match points then lost to a floating ball

 

[Amit Mehta]

Once again, Fan showing his versatility. If someone can somehow restrict WCQ or at least absorb barrage of third ball attacks then he starts to appear very vulnerable. Once again an absolute pleasure to see FZD playing this good 😊

 

[TT11.TV]

Fan Zhendong vs Wang Chuqin | MT Final

 

[JackJohnson]

My earlier prediction of 3-2 to Beijing was assuming FZD was playing after Zhou Kai but instead it was Xu Xin vs WCQ so prediction now 3-1 to Beijing lol. Theres no way XX winning this.

 

[PoppaChubby]

People that says Germany and Europe have a poor coaching environment are ignorant. Fact is now FZD have taken some european tactics, specially on the serve receive game, and using the middle/elbow placement more than before, it was really obvious in the semi and final of the single event: slow backhand topspins long in the middle, both LSD and WCQ have been killed by that.

On the serve tactics, no reverse pendulum anymore, and that's normal, it's becoming rare for obvious reasons: those are not suited anymore for ABS balls, and you have to freaking loopkill with a FH pivot to avoid receiving your own spin in your face. It's for really active FH pivot players, and FZD is not that kind of player.

When you don't loopkill on the receive it's just easy to put them in the middle of the table on long receives not trying to reverse the spin, just put the ball flat and dead but long enough on the elbow/middle zone, and FZD hates that cos' he just get his own spin to his face, and he always moves to the middle of the table to start BH to BH rallies:

Another thing that I don't understand LSD did not do: wide and short classic serves on FZD backhand, those that can even make only 1 rebound before going out of the table, FZD just gives them to you ! he does not know how to handle them

 

[latej]

It was nice to see how badly ML wanted it, both in doubles and in his singles match. It was good to see the drive. I'm happy for him.

 

[Robin0910]

It’s a shame we didn’t see a Ma Long vs Fan Zhendong or Ma Long vs Xu Xin. Both would’ve been legendary at this stage but it’s understandable why Beijing went with this setup shutting off Fan Zhendong’s second match.

 

[JackJohnson]

Is this the first time Ma Long has won the teams event for Beijing. Previous times was the Beijing Mens Team not good to win or was Ma Long injured previous time they won it?

 

[Janard]

Fan Zhendong vs Wang Chuqin | MT Final

Another reminder that WCQ is only sitting at the throne because FZD is allowing it. Double whammy to WCQ's confidence levels

 

[NextLevel]

Interesting strategy by Beijing to go with HYZ/ML for doubles.

They considered their first loss an effort problem not a matchup problem.

 

[Amit Mehta]

In a best-of-seven format, I’d even bet my life that WCQ cannot beat the FZD we’ve seen over the past few days. FZD is incredibly versatile and adapts exceptionally well—the only other player who is master in this art of adaptation is Ma Long. WCQ is ferocious but rather linear. He thrives on his ability to loop-kill any ball that’s even slightly long. The other, obvious tactic is to pin his opponent on their cross-over section, and wait for a weaker return, He does these things, exceptionally well, but that’s about it. He creates such opportunities with his extremely tight serves, and fast returns, yet struggles once his opponent neutralizes that advantage. In rallies, he often appears rushed. It seemed that FZD was deliberately standing a little farther from the table to gain extra time and extend the rallies.

Apart from this, I feel that I was noticing FZD whose body language seemed very positive and he was so focused from the very first ball.

 

[Metaxa]

People that says Germany and Europe have a poor coaching environment are ignorant. Fact is now FZD have taken some european tactics, specially on the serve receive game, and using the middle/elbow placement more than before, it was really obvious in the semi and final of the single event: slow backhand topspins long in the middle, both LSD and WCQ have been killed by that.

On the serve tactics, no reverse pendulum anymore, and that's normal, it's becoming rare for obvious reasons: those are not suited anymore for ABS balls, and you have to freaking loopkill with a FH pivot to avoid receiving your own spin in your face. It's for really active FH pivot players, and FZD is not that kind of player.

When you don't loopkill on the receive it's just easy to put them in the middle of the table on long receives not trying to reverse the spin, just put the ball flat and dead but long enough on the elbow/middle zone, and FZD hates that cos' he just get his own spin to his face, and he always moves to the middle of the table to start BH to BH rallies:


Another thing that I don't understand LSD did not do: wide and short classic serves on FZD backhand, those that can even make only 1 rebound before going out of the table, FZD just gives them to you ! he does not know how to handle them

I have long believed that top players no longer serve short serves to FH or BH. Many amateurs serve shorter (perhaps with less effect) than established players. Position service > receiver is crucial, but I think too little thought is given to this in the Far East.

 

[NextLevel]

It’s a shame we didn’t see a Ma Long vs Fan Zhendong or Ma Long vs Xu Xin. Both would’ve been legendary at this stage but it’s understandable why Beijing went with this setup shutting off Fan Zhendong’s second match.

This setup is the setup they played at their previous meeting in group stage and was the dominant setup during the event. Nothing special about it honestly. I suspect Beijing would have won with any setup as they would have won the doubles and both HZY and ML can beat Zhou Kai.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

sound of big head smacking the table was hilarious. good win for WCQ/ML team and FZD comes out looking like a superhero.

 

[mihalichtheone]

That moment when ML and XX hugged each other at the end...man, to me this felt like a true end of a legendary era of table tennis. Table tennis in 2014-2020 is much different that today's game, even though the ball hasn't change since then. Players adapted and play way more aggesively and close to the table, this is not so entertaining to watch, unfortunately.

 

[NextLevel]

View attachment 39006View attachment 39006

What did this salute mean?

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

What did this salute mean?

FZD is a big Real Madrid fan. I believe he is doing the Mbappe celebration, so probably a homage of sorts: