China Smash 2026, Beijing, 10/1-11

[pingpongnerd]

This comment just screams of ignorance and no knowledge. During Lin Shidong's dominance, he didn't do illegal serves. You can go back and watch his matches if you'd like. As for recent history, that's a different discussion. But watch the match vs Wang Chuqin. I believe he mostly didn't do illegal serves there. The players you put in the end are definitely not better than that.

Yes, I did watch a lot of his matches during his run to world no1. During that period his hook serves were basically all hidden, pendulum serves were legal though. Timo Boll complained about his hidden serves during a match at the Singapore Smash two and a half years ago . The referee gave timo a point due to a hidden serve of Lin SD.
He has always been one of biggest offenders when it comes to hidden serve.

 

[NextLevel]

That's an excellent comparison. Early career Ma Long didn't have a great backhand, then he re-tooled (with some martial arts training), and his new backhand was exceptionally solid and precise. But I'd agree with you, not a great backhand, just great tactics. Truls is different. His punch block might be the best in the game. There's also his chop blocks, short game, spin variation on drives. He's genuinely great at these things. If you want to insist that the measure of backhand quality is power looping, then okay, he's not great at that.

I know a high level coach who considers Ma Long's backhand a technical 10. I think sometimes, we don't make strong enough distinction between how someone decides to use his stroke in his game and whether the technique is excellent. Ma Long's backhand technique was different from someone like Fan Zhendong, but was excellent. This is very different from someone like Wang Liqin, who could be solid on the backhand, but often was on the back foot against many players when they could pin him down on it (which was extremely difficult).

As an aside, the coach thinks Truls needs to learn a proper backhand. Just to show you that it isn't a case of the player influencing the call. It is just an analysis of the technique in isolation as well as a decision on whether the technique/approach is one he would teach/encourage or not. I actually have come round on Truls backhand, I now find it pretty serviceable for what it does.

 

[JackJohnson]

It would be so easy for WTT/ITTF to track who was the one that did the flash during the match. These days especially when booking tickets in China everything is link to mobile number (ID verified) but of course if WTT/ITTF did that they would lose their revenue from the fangirls.

 

[Dr Evil]

I know a high level coach who considers Ma Long's backhand a technical 10. I think sometimes, we don't make strong enough distinction between how someone decides to use his stroke in his game and whether the technique is excellent. Ma Long's backhand technique was different from someone like Fan Zhendong, but was excellent. This is very different from someone like Wang Liqin, who could be solid on the backhand, but often was on the back foot against many players when they could pin him down on it (which was extremely difficult).

As an aside, the coach thinks Truls needs to learn a proper backhand. Just to show you that it isn't a case of the player influencing the call. It is just an analysis of the technique in isolation as well as a decision on whether the technique/approach is one he would teach/encourage or not. I actually have come round on Truls backhand, I now find it pretty serviceable for what it does.

I wouldn't argue about the technical excellence of Ma Long's backhand. But I don't think he was ever completely comfortable in bh to bh rallies with his toughest competition, and as he lost some foot speed and table coverage ability he might have regretted not adopting more standard technique earlier in his career.

If Truls wants to learn a proper backhand, he'll have to learn a proper grip. If Sabine Winter can make a late career switch to antispin and end up in the top 10, I guess Truls can change his grip. But that's a big ask for an Olympic silver medalist. And his backhand is already a unique weapon.

 

[zeio]

This comment just screams of ignorance and no knowledge. During Lin Shidong's dominance, he didn't do illegal serves. You can go back and watch his matches if you'd like. As for recent history, that's a different discussion. But watch the match vs Wang Chuqin. I believe he mostly didn't do illegal serves there. The players you put in the end are definitely not better than that.

Exactly.

LSD's rise to prominence actually coincided with the return of TTR. He won G3 with clean serves against LYJ in the MS SF of Aichi-Nagoya 2026, and there were instances in which LYJ actually hid his serves as well, something that he also did against WCT but still lost at Hangzhou 2022.

 

[Metaxa]

Just watched Sora vs LYJ. It was like watching a gun fight, bullets flying back and forth. I think Zyre 03 is transforming the game.

I think it was LYJ’s best match in the last two years.

 

[Matteones]

I would like to enter this backhand discussion from another perspective: I see here a tendency on judging it by isolating it and even further dividing it in parts (loop against backspin - flick - block etc.) and whilst I think this can be helpful when looking at the technique itself and admiring how even at the best level there is variance in technique, I think it is also a very partial view when judging it in the context of the full game a player develops.

Saying Ma Long's backhand was anything less than incredible can only make sense if you compare it with himself. His backhand was overall the best in the world for many many years, and whilst less estetically impressive than (let's say) Zhang Jike's or Fan Zhendong's, it hold up against such players, and completely obliterated everyone else, of course taken in conjunction with every other part of his game, because you cannot really separate it, but it was very far from a glaring weakness, it was a strength. Prime Ma Long (who lasted a decade if not more) had no weaknesses in his technical game to exploit, 0.

Speaking of Truls, you also have to take his backhand in his game system, and it is perfectly functional, we are speaking of a very strong top 5 player who has been there for years now and has shown repeatedly he deserves it. Banana flick just doesn't service his type of game, luckily not all players are the same. The only real weakness Truls has, in my opinion, when comparing him with the other very few players of his level, is his limited range of movement, for which he covers incredibly well 95% of the time. Only the very best at their best can exploit it. Also clash of styles exist, LYJ is just very comfortable with his game (we are speaking of another really stable top 5-10 player).

 

[pingpongnerd]

Exactly.

LSD's rise to prominence actually coincided with the return of TTR. He won G3 with clean serves against LYJ in the MS SF of Aichi-Nagoya 2026, and there were instances in which LYJ actually hid his serves as well, something that he also did against WCT but still lost at Hangzhou 2022.

Without his hidden hook serves , he would have lost G7 and the match to LYJ in the Asian games Semi final. In the deciding set, LYJ could be seen swearing because he could not see the contact and flicked the ball into the net. On the other hand, LYJ 's serves are probably 95 % clean.
Here are some samples of Lin SD's illegal serves being exposed by TTR

 

[zeio]

https://weibo.com/7556183438/Rmj5e3bfx
WTT世界乒联
26-10-12 12:00
发布于 北京
#WTT中国大满贯2026# 🔚

WTT1000+冠军榜更新⬇️

 

[zeio]

Judging from Matsushima's comment, LYJ or Wang Yi-Tse should've called TO in G6 when they were about to blow the lead, repeating the same mistake at World Cup 2026, where LYJ lost to Matsushima for the first time.

MS F
LYJ (5) 3-4 Matsushima (2) (-7, -9, 7, 8, 5, -7, -9)
After G4, Wang Yi-Tse reminded LYJ to change his placement and rhythm so as to keep Matsushima from getting his flow going or risk being dragged into his pace.
G5 73, 74, 104, 105, 115
G6 31, 32, 42, 45, 55, 56, 66, 610, 710, 711
G7 03 TO for LYJ, 06, 36 TO for Matsushima, 56, 58, 78, 79, 89, 810, 910 Matsushima got a yellow for calling out the flash, 911
Weird umpire for not giving Matsushima a yellow for hitting the dead ball outside the court out of anger. That would've cost Matsushima the 2nd championship point.

 

[M51]

Fan Zhendong was one (Grand Slam Champion) unless i am missing something. But maybe @M51 can explain what i missed.

Jeez, I had a brain fart again. 😵‍💫

Wasn't my first, and won't be my last. 😆

I'll be surprised if he manages it tbh, I still think his temperament will catch him out.

He's a sulking teenager who needs to grow the hell up eventually. I believe he will. Experience will calm his temperament.

Or not.

 

[zeio]

I would caveat the LSD win over Matsushima by reminding you of the absence of TTR and the blatantly illegal and hidden hook serve.

EDIT: Also overlooks that ZQH beat Harimoto here so you are giving Harimoto too much unearned credit and claiming Matsushima is the blocker here for self-serving reasons.

You should go read Harimoto's comment about losing to Alamiyan at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. It's more or less the same response as WCT gave back at Jakarta Palembang 2018.

Nothing but fanboys here, blaming the loss entirely on the lack of TTR.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Good writeup by WTT of Sora taking the title

Quote from the article:

“I’m very happy to have become World No. 1 and won the title here. Becoming World No. 1 has boosted my confidence, so even when I was trailing, I was still able to play with confidence. I think that was why I won today, which is really nice. There are many things about Lin that I look up to, and he's a very strong player. Even when I was leading 2-0, I knew he was definitely capable of levelling the score, and I was mentally prepared for that. When I was down 1-3 with the match score at 2-3, I thought to myself, ‘If I lose this easily here, what's the point of becoming world No. 1?’ So, I fought back tenaciously and focused on playing to my strengths. As a Japanese player, I know that most table tennis fans here support Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha. Once you reach a level where you can challenge and beat them, the crowd can turn against you wherever you play. That said, I’m grateful to be able to play in front of so many spectators. I don’t really get caught up in their reaction. Instead, I draw strength from the fans who support me, even if they’re fewer in number, to stay mentally strong and focus on my game.” – Sora Matsushima

 

[zeio]

Wang Manyu still too strong for Hitomi Sato, but still it was world class performance. Incredible rallies.

Like for Hashimoto, CNT's profiling of Sato is confirmed in WMY's mixed-zone interview.

WMY said she didn't expect to win in 4 straight games, and she attributed the win to keeping her composure throughout and firmly executing the game plan they'd prepared with MLin and WH.

As I wrote back then about Hashimoto, JNT women need to close ranks and work together like the JNT men or expect to be 各個擊破/picked off one by one. The momentum Miwa had built up for the team ahead of Asian Games already dissipated after that WT final and her game was showing signs of fraying in all events, WS/WD/XD. Age is still her (only) advantage at this point but if teamwork continues to be an afterthought among the different members/teams, then they will self-implode one day, sooner or later. CHN grabbing all 6 gold (WT/XD/MD/WS/WD/MS) after dropping the first 1 on JPN's home turf is already telling enough, and now CHN (w/ WCQ and LSD absent) and KOR winning WS/WD and MD/XD, respectively, is not something to feel overly optimistic if I were JPN.

https://weibo.com/7556183438/RmcmNC3wU
WTT世界乒联
26-10-11 18:54
发布于 北京
来自 微博视频号
#WTT中国大满贯2026# 女单决赛，王曼昱4-0佐藤瞳，赛后采访 [http://t.cn/AXlc3dxb] WTT世界乒联的微博视频

 

[zeio]

View attachment 43753

Is there any truth to this?

Depends. Having been the umpire myself for years, I'd say, not really.

See for yourself what LYJ's fans have to say about the politically correct comment of ELTA's host on Matsushima's action.

https://www.threads.com/@chang.yichi.tw/post/DeW0ED_lIjP

張旖旂 a.k.a. 娃娃 (@chang.yichi.tw) on Threads

雖然決勝局松島接發臨時喊停，時間點的確對昀儒不利，但該檢討的應該是觀眾席的閃光燈，觀賽禮儀的問題一講再講，還是沒什麼改善… 恭喜松島輝空拿下大滿貫冠軍，昀儒的發揮也很精彩，幾度落後都能夠反撲，展現出比以往更強大的韌性，相信捧起冠軍獎盃也不會等太久！

www.threads.com

 

[NextLevel]

You should go read Harimoto's comment about losing to Alamiyan at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. It's more or less the same response as WCT gave back at Jakarta Palembang 2018.

Nothing but fanboys here, blaming the loss entirely on the lack of TTR.

I read the comments when you initially posted them, I try to make a quick judgment on the quality of what you have posted and if it is factually motivated, I read it if I have time.

You need to stop trying to insult our intelligence with expert opinion. We can make our own judgments too, right or wrong. No one is blaming the loss *entirely* on a lack of TTR, that is your own strawman. Are you stubborn enough to say that TTR would not have helped Harimoto even when he brought it up, simply because he said he had won before? Or are you simply going to weight the fact that he had beaten Alamiyan before more heavily because you want to argue?

 

[Metaxa]

MS QF
Moregard (4) 0-4 LYJ (5) (-7, -9, -9, -7)
G2 86, 88, 98, 911
LYJ's feint fade push to Moregard's wide FH at 9:9 of G2 showed why Moregard's creativity is useless against players more comprehensive than him.
G3 41, 42, 52, 53, 63 54 sideline edge for Moregard challenged successfully by LYJ, 56 TO for Moregard, 66, 68, 78, 710, 910, 911
G4 30, 31, 41, 49, 79 TO for LYJ, 711

Another shutout. Moregard was lucky to have gotten those Olympic and WTTC medals. ML and HS et al. were right to ignore medals when assessing Harimoto and LYJ, whom are in their own league when it comes to posing threat to the CNT.

It wasn’t just that point. In the first set, he’d already forced Truls to smash his rubber by placing an excellent push-drop shot. What Truls does with his block shots is pretty much useless against a left-hander of LYJ’s calibre.
But statisticians really ought to update their data as a matter of urgency and start recording how many points are won from parallel shots (FH & BH). It’s always a joy to see that LYJ can execute these flawlessly.
His mind and arm movement (🧠+🦾) are often on a different level when it comes to using parallel shots at just the right moment.

 

[zeio]

Depends. Having been the umpire myself for years, I'd say, not really.

WS F
Zheng Qinwen 2-0 Andreeva (7-5, 6-4)
First final as well as first title for a player from China after 20 editions.

Ito: I'm the only current Olympic gold medalist, and hope to speak and act as one.
Zheng: I'm the only current Olympic gold medalist, but I realized that is not way.

How humility and hard truths restored Zheng Qinwen’s fire in Beijing
https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4590...with-beijing-crown-after-humbling-2026-season

Zheng: It's true he made a huge change for me, and he saved me from the lowest moment when I lost that qualifying match in Toronto. Sometimes, it's really hard for his job as well, because if you want the player to perform as good, you need to be tough on court.

What’s happened in the past is maybe I was not humble enough to [hear] this hard [truths, this hard training, because I felt I'm already one of the best. I wanted to show that I know more than [him], and after many losses, I realized that's not the way.

If you want to win, you need to stay humble and listen to your coach, so I find in that moment I made a click and we've been working really well. He really did a lot of changes in my game -- also to my mental side -- because he's always the one who trusts me how much I can achieve. When I feel I'm at my limits, he's always there to push me more because he knows I have so much more in me that I can give on court.

https://weibo.com/6320391439/RmsqMuEzn
咪咕体育
26-10-13 11:48
来自 微博网页版
#里巴把郑钦文从低谷拉出#

谈及教练里巴对自己的帮助，@郑钦文Ana 表示：

“他给我带来了巨大的改变，而且在我多伦多资格赛输球陷入最低谷的时候，是他把我拉了出来。有时候他的工作也很不容易，因为如果你想让球员发挥出最佳水平，在场上就必须严格要求。”

过去发生的事情或许是因为我当时不够谦逊，无法接受这些严厉的指正和艰苦的训练，因为我当时觉得自己已经是顶尖球员之一了。我总想证明自己比他更懂行，但在经历多次失利后，我才意识到那不是正确的方式。

若想获胜，你必须保持谦逊并听从教练指导，于是就在那一刻我豁然开朗，我们现在的配合非常默契。他在我的打法包括心理层面确实做了很多调整，因为他始终是那个相信我能取得更高成就的人。当我觉得自己已达到极限时，他总会在那里推动我走得更远，因为他知道我还可以在场上发挥出更多的潜力。”

#郑钦文谈重燃斗志##里巴说为郑钦文自豪#

 

[sebi]

https://weibo.com/7556183438/Rmj5e3bfx
WTT世界乒联
26-10-12 12:00
发布于 北京
#WTT中国大满贯2026# 🔚

WTT1000+冠军榜更新⬇️

If timo complains its 100% illegal. Still hus game was really good. I think LSDs game fell a bit apart looked liked chima wanted him to have a better forehand and use it more so he was stuck inbetweeem the game he was used to and the one was learning to become more complete

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

View attachment 43753

Is there any truth to this?

Video evidence backing Sora's flash claim:

Musk大叔 (@muskdashu) on X

谁说松岛辉空利用规则恶意暂停比赛胜之不武？关键球观众闪光灯高清视频证据来了 可以明显看到在松岛辉空在接发球瞬间，对面观众席出现闪光灯，松岛第一时间暂停比赛和裁判投诉，就连林均儒的教练也向裁判述说并指向闪光的位置，就连观众也说有闪光灯，但意外的是裁判并未理会直接黄牌警告松岛恶意暂停干扰对手发球。 这真是输球又输人！林均儒输的球，而那些不文明的中国观众输了人。

x.com