Singapore Smash 2026, Singapore, 2/19-3/1

[Metaxa]

At the level of LYJ, WCQ, LSD, TH, HC etc, there's no such a thing as unusually poor play, especially when talking about a player's coup de grace.

Would you say it was an usually poor play by Harimoto on his loss against Patrick? Nope. Harimoto couldn't handle Patrick's backhand quality.

Same thing applies here. WCQ's quality is the reason for said mistakes. WCQ is good against straightforward balls like that, especially when he's prepared for the said shot. I have no doubt that even Harimoto would have no answer for LYJ's fast backhand counterloop and Chiquita.

I am not detracting from Wang's performance at all, but if you miss almost all BH flips after Wang's service and your own service (i.e. on the second or third ball), it is difficult to speak of a dominant game from your opponent. The third and fourth sets were slightly better, but Lin certainly did not reach the level of his previous matches and, as I wrote earlier, those last two sets were due to Wang's dominance.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

exciting tournament with the expected outcomes!

 

[po-stit]

WCQ was countering the backhand banana from LYJ effortlessly and to me it seems too be thr one of the strongest aspects of LYJ gameplay. Besides that it felt that LYJ was playing with shackles, mainly on first set. It almost felt that he was injured because he was barely moving.

 

[SFF_lib]

Critically nobody has the answer to WCQ's service. It comes down to training partner and resources to some extent.

WCQ can easily find a practice partner to imitate anyone.

But it's extremely difficult for any country to find a practice partner who plays like WCQ.

Felix's slightly better than LYJ in return and short games, i guess that's why the score's a bit closer.

 

[Oliverpool]

Critically nobody has the answer to WCQ's service. It comes down to training partner and resources to some extent.

WCQ can easily find a practice partner to imitate anyone.

But it's extremely difficult for any country to find a practice partner who plays like WCQ.

Felix's slightly better than LYJ in return and short games, i guess that's why the score's a bit closer.

It was the 5th game between them. Felix lost badly in many of the earlier games not able return many serves or on WCQ third ball attacks. It seems like many player face issues with WCQ ball quality and serves. Considering this is LYJ first game against WCQ? I sort of expected this result even though LYJ came
Into this game with good form.

 

[baotran]

It was the 5th game between them. Felix lost badly in many of the earlier games not able return many serves or on WCQ third ball attacks. It seems like many player face issues with WCQ ball quality and serves. Considering this is LYJ first game against WCQ? I sort of expected this result even though LYJ came
Into this game with good form.

Top players scare his third ball attack af, so they are overcareful to receive. That would lead to many errors. Only players with super solid defense like Fan Zhendong or Harimoto could feel less pressure when receiving Wang's serves.

 

[Shine]

It was the 5th game between them. Felix lost badly in many of the earlier games not able return many serves or on WCQ third ball attacks. It seems like many player face issues with WCQ ball quality and serves. Considering this is LYJ first game against WCQ? I sort of expected this result even though LYJ came
Into this game with good form.

Wang should have at least 10 matches against Lin. They've been going up against each other since their junior years.

 

[PingArena]

Both LYJ and WCQ rely on the serve-receive-third ball attack phase to set up their tactics, WCQ has that monstrous forehand, while LYJ relies on his backhand flick and his backhand. But WCQ is very comfortable on his backhand as well, and so on backhand-backhand rallies WCQ fares okay plus he always has that option of the sidestep forehand drive.

But in truth it was also a really disappointing performance from Lin imo.

 

[Oliverpool]

Wang should have at least 10 matches against Lin. They've been going up against each other since their junior years.

They played each other twice last year before LYJ changed his forehand rubber to zyre 03. And he lost both times 3-0 and 4-0 I believe. So zyre did not seem to make much of difference for his forehand.

It seems strange that both LYJ against WCQ and Felix against LSD has so much issue with long serves to their backhand. All with their loops
And Chiquita going off the tables. Perhaps the CNT has been working on serves against them as they are
The players in form recently.

 

[dewnyc]

Truls now #2, Hugo moved down to #4, likewise for Tomo to #5
Sabine Winter keeps moving up, now #11

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Truls now #2, Hugo moved down to #4, likewise for Tomo to #5
Sabine Winter keeps moving up, now #11

Sabine is listed in the players list for Champions Chongqing, and Mima Ito is not. By my calculations, if Sabine makes it to the QF in Chongqing, she will swap places with Mima's WR#10.

Hina (#9) leapfrogs Mima (#10) to take her rightful place as the 2nd highest ranked Japanese woman behind Miwa.

 

[Bollwerk]

Sabine is listed in the players list for Champions Chongqing, and Mima Ito is not. By my calculations, if Sabine makes it to the QF in Chongqing, she will swap places with Mima's WR#10.

Hina (#9) leapfrogs Mima (#10) to take her rightful place as the 2nd highest ranked Japanese woman behind Miwa.

QF is not enough yet, she's 333 points behind. Sabine still has low scores to replace in her active ranking and none of her points are dropping anytime soon, so she should get there eventually regardless.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

QF is not enough yet, she's 333 points behind. Sabine still has low scores to replace in her active ranking and none of her points are dropping anytime soon, so she should get there eventually regardless.

Yeah, you're right. I was looking at Mima's expiring points in April, but it wouldn't happen until long after Chongqing. But it could happen sooner if Sabine makes the SF at Chongqing.

 

[zeio]

Singapore athletes among those affected as war on Iran disrupts global sporting events
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/...s-war-on-iran-disrupts-global-sporting-events

]https://www.facebook.com/XinhuaNewsAgency/videos/907563218819615/

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=907563218819615

 

[Metaxa]

They played each other twice last year before LYJ changed his forehand rubber to zyre 03. And he lost both times 3-0 and 4-0 I believe. So zyre did not seem to make much of difference for his forehand.

Certainly not against Wang, but since his move to Zyre, his FH has improved remarkably.