Sora and Harimoto played one of the most intense table tennis matches i have ever seen rivaling (and for me surpassing) the Togami-Harimoto final two years ago. It was clearly the final before the final, I still wonder how Harimoto manages to keep up with some of those balls that Sora is hitting and Sora laser guided balls did lots of damage. The final might have disappointed the fans but it confirmed what I felt watching the match that those two were playing on an astral plane during that match.
Miwa finally wins and I said this before but I hope she sticks with D09c on forehand. Harimoto should should think about equipment changes as well, he is clearly slower to me in the rallies and I am not sure whether it is a power deficit or just technique but even as badly as Shinozuka lost, I didn't feel his ball was slower than Sora the same way I felt Tomo was slower than Sora. But all this portends well for Japan in London, they just need to figure out who their #3 should be, Shinozuka lacks the threat and Togami lacks the variation and shot selection. Uda and Tanaka lack the stability. I would likely start with Uda but he is also the easiest to shut down if his backhand is not working. Hard choices await for Japan. And Franxe, Taiwan, Korea, Sweden and Germany are not sleeping either.
