As ttmonster said, the hardest part is to get back into position to receive the next ball. Look at the legs of Zhang Jike. They are huge because without that legs he will not be able to get back into position fast enough.
I don't think the color of sponge is for fashion. Most of the time it is because of the booster that manufacture apply on the rubber.
Anyway, a shining red sponge will be great!
Ma Long was great when he was 19-20. That time Zhang Jike was not as good as now. So people used to be the fan of Ma Long. After Zhang Jike rises almost no one change to be the fan of Zhang Jike. So Ma Long has more fans than Zhang Jike.The first time i saw Zhang Jike was at the final of 2010...
I see no once in pulling the shirt off. Also you can not say "Ma Long can beat Zhang Jike if there is no pressure" because there is no time without pressure unless they are playing for fun. And if they then the result is not important to any one.
OK, His loses to them was in world tours. This are not major events. Major events are WTTC, World Cup and Olympic Games.
Zhang Jike was in 5 major events. He reached the final all of them and won 4 of them! It means that he lost only one match at major events and that was in the Final.
No one can beat Fan Zhendong in group B so he has 99% to get into main draw.
I'm waiting for Ma Long vs Joo Seahyuk match in group A. Best offensive player against best defender. It will be epic.
Yes, players can be analyzed in many different way but it doesn't mean that there is not a best players.The player that get ranked #1 in most of subjects is the best. And for me he is Zhang Jike.He is the best in every thing except of forehand.
I have some of those bad days before and i think its something to do state of mind. Before the match you should define your strategy. So you will know what are you going to do there. Also it's better to warm up at least 30 minutes before the match.
There will be better two commentators. One couch to analyse the game and some one to say "wow, incredible rally" and things like that. In 2010 WTTTC it was like this and i think it was the best commenting team ever!
I didn't mean his attitude to others. I mean his mental power in important matches. Unlike others he will never get nervous.
Also i'm agree with you about those points. He is surely a bad boy but is not important for me because i see him as a player not a person that is going to be my idol.