WTT Finals Hong Kong 2025, 12/10-14

[Metaxa]

Ah, you started thinking. Maybe that's where you went wrong!
It means nothing.
Every point has to be analysed on the basis of the point progression and the shots before it that set up the winner.
One player hit x no of winners to player y's fh side. On its own that's a random and largely useless piece of information.
If your point is that Harimoto cannot defend his FH side then you'd be wrong.
Nobody can defend the FH side properly when they are previously pushed out of position or were forced to an error that popped the ball up (or otherwise) to leave a relatively easy winner.
But I don't know what your point is because you didn't make one, or clarify.

😄
If someone scores 8 points in one set on someone's FH and those points almost always occur after a ball change from BH > FH, then you can say that something is wrong with your opponent and that you have found your opponent's weak point.
This is an observation that is not difficult to see, but perhaps a little more difficult for some to understand, I don't know. Just because someone has a difficult-to-read FH (like Truls) does not mean that you should not react.

 

[blahness]

What is a calculated decision? No, no, for sure a technical deficiency. Tomo's forehand is already much better than last year, but it's sad to see that he still has no reaction when switching from backhand to forehand. You noticed it yourself! And Truls saw it clearly. And indeed, in my opinion, there is still far too much diagonal play. If you want to score unexpected points, a parallel ball is the best approach. If you don't score the point, it's definitely good preparation for your next ball.

If you mean FH defence say it because i did not see Harimoto missing many FH loops or counters when he is in position.

In TT defence you have to focus your attention on defending some areas and that is a key tactical decision. Harimoto is correctly focusing on defending his BH side since it is way easier to land the diagonal shot than a straight line topspin. Truls runs a much higher risk of outright missing his topspin if he attacks the straight line from his pivot position.

Say if Harimoto focused on defending his FH side then Truls would have noticed it and then switched hit plenty of winners on his BH side with high percentages and Harimoto would most likely have lost the match as a result.

Letting your opponent miss with low percentage shots is a key TT tactic.

 

[Oliverpool]

I got this shot from Harimoto game in the semi vs LSD. It does seem like he is using Z03 on his forehand. This is from WTT semi full match video at 2 min 24 secs.

 

[exotick]

Butterfly just announced on their facebook account (Butterfly Table Tennis) Harimoto uses 2x Zyre 03.

 

[NextLevel]

Harimoto with the English!

 

[nablaz]

Harimoto with the English!

Maybe "English" is a bit of an overstatement... 😜
On a more serious note, I do appreciate the effort on his part: I think it's great to hear impressions/thoughts straight from the players and, having lived in Japan, I know how hard it is for most Japanese people to express themselves in English.
Kudos to Harimoto for giving an interview without a translator, I hope this inspires more east-asian players to try and do the same, in order to better engage with international fans!

 

[NextLevel]

Maybe "English" is a bit of an overstatement... 😜
On a more serious note, I do appreciate the effort on his part: I think it's great to hear impressions/thoughts straight from the players and, having lived in Japan, I know how hard it is for most Japanese people to express themselves in English.
Kudos to Harimoto for giving an interview without a translator, I hope this inspires more east-asian players to try and do the same, in order to better engage with international fans!

Hey, its better than my Japanese for sure! So it is English to me lol!

 

[zeio]

Harimoto and Moregard switch places again.

https://weibo.com/7556183438/Qiu7e9hf7
WTT世界乒联
原创
12-15 10:00
#WTT香港总决赛2025# 🔚

WTT1000+冠军榜更新⬇️

 

[zeio]

Interesting stats by pingpongafrica.

https://www.instagram.com/pingpongafrica/p/DSRjcEkjaDw
https://www.instagram.com/pingpongafrica/p/DSRj0HRjXzb

https://www.instagram.com/pingpongafrica/p/DScr5cADQPy
Hashimoto: My face...

https://www.instagram.com/pingpongafrica/p/DScq_J7DcrS