Europe Smash 2026, Malmö, 8/8-16

[Richie]

Yes I think I remember now you mentioned the injury in the past. Sorry again... I'm not a doctor and I don't know the details, so take what I say with some reservation... I recommend to investigate fasting and its benefits, like autophagy and stem-cells... Best.

BTW. I think if @NDH is reading it, he is smiling, because he knows I evangelize it to everybody straight in the face... But I really believe it has huge potential...

EDIT2: @Richie the best match in this tournament was the Elias Ranefur vs Sora Matsushima. It was so great to see how Elias overpowered Sora, who otherwise overpowers everyone. It's a pitty he didn't win. There was this FH shot in 7th set that he missed, he had an advantage...

I saw a few of Elias matches live! Incredible play. One of my close friends played against Ranefur before. When we saw that even Lin Shidong struggled against his serves, he felt a bit better about spraying them left and right

 

[NextLevel]

I saw a few of Elias matches live! Incredible play. One of my close friends played against Ranefur before. When we saw that even Lin Shidong struggled against his serves, he felt a bit better about spraying them left and right

I asked my former coach (formerly on the Swedish national team hierarchy) whether he would have fielded Ranefur over M. Karlsson (as happened in an European teams event against Romania I believe, where Ranefur, despite beating O. Ionescu earlier in a WTT match, lost to Ionescu) - he said it was a wash and that M. Karlsson had a reputation for underperforming in teams events. He then talked to me about how players were developed to try to ascend the team hierarchy, and whenever he spoke about Ranefur (who was at that time the lowest prominent member on the hierarchy and who would be the target of any player who at that time wanted a decent shot of making the team), the word "tough" (as in incredibly "tough" to play against) almost always soon followed...

 

[Lula]

It is fun that it goes well for Ranefur. Feels like a late bloomer. I do not think he played youth and junior national team, at least not as much as the other Swedish players. Also been very nice and humble when I have spoken to him. I find it interesting how the pros have such a hard time with the long serve. Feels like they should be able to create enough spin in the loop to counter some of his spin and then more okey to read wrong. Also feel like they have more time to see the long serve so should be able to react. But probably very aggressive. Lebrun serve is also very aggressive and offensive. Even the short serve feels very fast. Can imagine it is hard to play short and avoid the kick kick play Lebrun wants.

Last year the event did not feel so American. Much more game show like this year with shooting balls and cards, even in the set breaks. Maybe this will make the events more popular? I feel it undermines the sport a bit. That we need to stuff like this in the set breaks. I have nothing against Americans but feel like maybe the sport is enough and do not make it so game show like.