The issue of cutting corners is also evident in Ishikawa. Yup, her again. Can't help it. I've been keeping watch on her since 2009. In 2014, she said in a TV program she needed to work on her backhand, with her then new coach Chen Lili. She also said she had to work on the crucial points. In 2017, in yet another program, she was still fixing it, with yet another new coach, Li Lu since 2016. Her handling of crucial points is still disastrous as she pointed out in a news report after losing to Chen Meng. She also admitted to constantly imitating other players, never truly building on her own style. She copied Hirano's style after witnessing what she achieved. She revealed that she'd been focused on protecting her place on the team until she realized Ito and Hirano were already breathing down her neck. After so many years, she is finally back to working on her fundamentals. Yup, after years of cutting corners.
Bottom line? She just doesn't have what it takes. Zhang Yining said that much during her commentary in the final at the WTTC 2016.