I don't feel the same at all about Ishikawa.
Yes it was a bit disheartening to see her play, not because she is a dead weight (she isn't) but because she should trust her game more even when it comes to CNT.
Instead of playing in her own way, she went down the faster-and-harder-than-the-Chinese route like the rest of her team mates. And it doesn't look like she can do that. She made many mistakes by going for that little bit more power, trying to take the ball that little bit earlier. She stands half a step further away from the table than her teammates and it seems to make a world of difference.
She also got caught wide open with the pace she gave to the opponent. She couldn't follow at that pace.
(Yes, we are all nobodies talking about a level of play much beyond us, but still I'll give my opinion.
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(She also had trouble with ZYL serves and it didn't help. Anyway.)
I didn't see her getting destroyed when she played just a bit softer but a bit more dynamic, finding angles, setting up counters, and ripping the occasional ball. When she waits for the ball to reach her, her consistency ramps up enormously, and she can either play at full power or control the pace/placement. Step in and accelerate when the opponent is out of position. In fact it is the only time she seemed to get back in the game (she was down 0-7 I believe, and came back a bit into the game, 7-9; most of the last game she goes back to whatever she was doing before).
Imo she has a more versatile, all round game than her teammates. Why not stake the match on what she does well? She might lose because it doesn't work against CNT? Big deal... 1) She is the clear underdog to start with. 2) Random joes on the internet and maybe closer to home are going to criticise her anyway after she loses. 3) She is almost sure to lose if she plays fast and hard against CNT, even though she can do it well enough to be #3. Basically I don't understand what the game plan was, playing in such a way for the opponent to outclass her and hoping on ZYL miraculously choking? Is this really what the staff around her advised? Maybe she should go on an internship with JOW instead!
Regardless, she is still one of the best in the world and probably the most reliable player in the Japanese team.