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Pesotksa usually beats Lily though Lily has beaten her before. I think either path was fine for the USA but since this path almost worked, it is what it is.

For everyone wondering why this is so tense, everyone knows this is the deciding match. Jessica is unlikely to win so if Sally doesn't win, Ukraine wins this.

Very hard for a young player to recover from that - she used her timeout too...

Hugo is playing out of slot is what I find interesting. Interesting that *both* teams made these changes.

I don't think it is just about limits, it is also about keeping players motivated - politics is important in team events. The most important politics for the athletes is justified meritocracy. But Nina is a home grown player and likely the reserve player who must be kept ready in case...

Sally is beast and beauty combined - well done! What a comeback and what points!

Lily's superpower is her backhand. The tactics were not surprising, they were correct - Lily generally doesn't pivot. Tetyana is now 42, it takes a lot of energy to loop. Even her smashes were often ineffective. Pesotska is legitimately strong. Backhand superpower as well, spinny and...

Germany handles a dangerous Hong Kong team tightly but smoothly. Germany Japan rematch on the cards. Will Sora win a match this time?

Might be genetics, might be rehab but for a table tennis player, Sally's lower body looks *so* different from the American norm. A pleasure to see someone committed to the physicality of the game.

If Sally wins, her strength is really top 30 in disguise and the US legitimately has 3 top 50 players.

Tetyana used to be higher ranked when she was younger. Lily would have struggled much more against that version because she used to pip hit much more.

Her opponent is now 42. She is probably filling out a team decimated by other aging players and the war. I do wonder why players like Solomiya Brateyko and Gaponova are not around.

Lily doing the Mario-Donkey Kong dance when she is up. Thankfully she pulls it out. Clutch win. The US have done their best - the next match is gravy. Hopefully, Sally is good enough to beat Magaryta. But if not, no shame there either.

Good timeout from Gao Jun regardless of the result of the game. Wow, that was close lol... amazing gets from both players in the final point to keep the point going....

Lily doesn't read the twiddle and loses 4 points in a row. Hopefully it is something Gao Jun can fix. Lily must be bored out of her mind at this tempo.

Looks like they moved Tetyana Bilenko into #3 so Lily will have to beat a pips player anyways. Good luck!

Some have said it is her knee. Others have said it helps the team strategy. Who really knows?

I forgot - Germany - Hong Kong on the men's side is also a clash of heavy weights - the 2 and 3 spots for Hong Kong are sneaky strong. Germany is the clear favorite, but Hong Kong will get its chances.

First clast of titans coming up with Germany vs PRK on the women's side. BTW, in the next round, Sweden got a nasty matchup with Taiwan coming. Feng and Kuo have been on fire ever since LYJ started playing for the team and they are a legitimate threat to Sweden, Germany and Japan, it will be...

Naresh is not a strong player, that result is not evidence of anything. Coton beating Togami, Kanak and Geraldo is serious business. Right now, if Gauzy loses a match which Coton did not play in, people will ask hard questions.