Recent content by astarr

I've been following Hitomi Sato's game since last year, and what a breakout year 2026 has been for her! Back in 2025, she was playing a lot of WTT Feeder events, and now she's made her way back into the world’s top 10. It's been amazing to witness her journey and see all her hard work finally...

Wang Manyu gets her revenge on Hitomi Sato with a 4–0 sweep to claim the China Smash title

With the expedite rule in effect, this marks Sato's fourth match out of six at China's Smash under expedite conditions! Her matches under the expedite rule: R64: Mo Zhang QF: Zhu Sibing SF: Chen Xingtong F: Wang Manyu

Despite WMY's aggressive attacks, Sato is managing to return those shots. And we are going to expedite at set 2

WMY came prepared, delivering a dominant attacks to take the first game 11-2

HITOMI SATO MAKES HISTORY! She defeats Chen Xingtong to become the first womens JNT player ever to reach a WTT Smash final!

Is it just me, or is Hitomi Sato doing more of her chopping with inverted than with her pips in this match?

wow CXT is really good against choppers

It’s only the 3rd set, but what a match Insane attacks and incredible defense from both choppers

Hitomi Sato beats Sabine Winter 3–0 and advances to the QF, where she’ll face rising chopper from China, Zhu Sibing.

I saw Saki Shibata in the reception video from China Smash. I think she might be coaching Sato again, or maybe Odo.

I’ve been seeing videos of Suh Hyowon at the Asian Games. I didn’t know she’s a coach now. It’s really nice to see her still supporting the S.KNT even after her retirement.

idk what's on kihara's mind but she just started chopping after she made an error on her serve

Kihara comes back from 10–7 down to steal Set 2, 12–10. She scores five straight points after forcing an expedite against Sato.

She did say in a post match US-Smash Interview that she looked at Hashimoto and Han Ying’s styles when she was asked about her strategy against WMY. What a year indeed for her. I hope she can make it back into the Top 10 again.