Europe Smash 2026, Malmö, 8/8-16

[zeio]

Could time zones have played a factor in Felix"s issues on Yokohama?

Harimoto reaching the final in Malmo after winning in Yokohama a week apart kind of cancels that out.

Felix having more time to prepare for the final is another factor.

 

[zeio]

View attachment 42949
I truly cannot understand at all. 90% of the points won by Felix is RPB. Is C-Pen BH so scary?

Is Gozo getting old and stuck in old outdated thinking?

Harimoto: Make Cpen great again!

He's actually talked about how RPB loops came with sidespin that gives him such a hard time.

【卓球】張本智和「コントロールできなかった」独特“ペンホルダー”に苦しみ1回戦ストレート負け「また良い結果を出せるように」
https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/sports/038104beccbc4b2db7967d48c64769fa

◇卓球WTTチャンピオンズ マカオ(9～14日、中国・マカオ)

張本智和選手（世界ランク3位）は薛飛選手（世界ランク45位/中国）と対戦し、0－3（8－11、8－11、9－11）で敗戦。世界ランクでは大きく上回る相手にストレート負けで初戦敗退となりました。

試合後取材に応じた張本選手。「今年の2月に対戦していて1回負けていて、その時が苦しかったので対策を練ったんですけど、1ゲーム逆転されてからそこからは…。各ゲーム競っていたんですけど、相手の方が落ち着いていたかなと思います」と話しました。

特に相手のスタイルに対応できなかったことを敗戦の要因に挙げた張本選手。この試合は特に相手のバックハンドに苦しみました。

「ペンホルダーで、ラケットの持ち方が特殊な相手。角度が違ったりに対応するのが難しかった。彼の打ち方自体が独特で、僕が合わせきれていないのかなと思います。特にバックハンドが独特で、どう打つかとか使わせないかでしたが、コントロールできなかった」

次回は北京で行われるWTTスマッシュ中国に出場予定。

「先月は（WTTチャンピオンズ横浜優勝など）結果が良かったですけど、今月はスウェーデンとマカオで良くなかった。残りの試合でしっかりまた良い結果を出せるようにしていきたいなと思います」

(◇Table Tennis WTT Champions Macau (September 9-14, Macau, China)

Tomokazu Harimoto (World Rank 3) faced Xue Fei (World Rank 45/China) and lost 0-3 (8-11, 8-11, 9-11). He suffered a straight-sets defeat against a significantly higher-ranked opponent, resulting in his first-round exit.

In an interview after the match, Harimoto said, "I played him in February of this year and lost once. That was a tough match, so I made some preparations, but after he reversed the score in the first game... Each game was close, but I think my opponent was calmer."

Harimoto cited his inability to adapt to his opponent's style as the main reason for his loss. He particularly struggled against his opponent's backhand in this match.

"My opponent uses a penholder grip, which is unusual. The angles were different, making it difficult to adapt. His hitting style itself is unique, and I think I wasn't able to fully adjust to it. His backhand, in particular, was unique; I struggled to control it, trying to figure out how to hit it or prevent him from using it."

Next, he plans to compete in the WTT Smash China tournament in Beijing.

"Last month I had good results (including winning the WTT Champions Yokohama), but this month I didn't do well in Sweden and Macau. I want to do my best to achieve good results in the remaining matches.")

---

FULL MATCH | Tomokazu Harimoto vs Wong Chun Ting | Asian Cup 2026
https://youtu.be/zZj9Q-yVUWY?t=446

 

[zeio]

I agree. I was slightly surprised that Sora was visibly panting after many of the rallies starting from
Game 5/6. Probably time to work on his physical strength. You do not see the same
From WCQ who is much older.

Some Tieba users have been telling him to lose weight (be prepared to get canceled here) because of that, whereas others tend to attribute that kind of loss to Matsushima's mentality.

好吧松竹能二天干出二个7:0开局输球的局
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/10948721218
timesdo 这不是第一次大比分被翻了，昨天松岛打兰弗利同样是第六局松岛7比1领先被翻，这次打张本是第六局7比0被翻，说明心态确实不太好
IP属地:河北来自Android客户端7楼2026-08-16 21:44收起回复
(This wasn't the first time a large point gap had been overturned. Yesterday, Matsushima was leading 7:1 against Ranefur but was overturned in the 6th game. This time against Harimoto, he was leading 7:0 in the 6th game but was overturned, showing that his mentality is indeed not good)
圆月无锋: 打王楚钦两次7：1被翻盘还有
2026-8-16 21:45回复
(He was overturned twice 7:1 against Wang Chuqin)
timesdo: 回复 圆月无锋 :从这就能看出松岛的心态确实不行，尤其是跟强手打的时候最容易暴露出这个问题
2026-8-16 21:48回复
(This shows that Matsushima's mentality is indeed not good, especially when playing against strong opponents, this problem is most easily exposed)

 

[Richie]

View attachment 42949
I truly cannot understand at all. 90% of the points won by Felix is RPB. Is C-Pen BH so scary?

Is Gozo getting old and stuck in old outdated thinking?

These different grips having a big effect is overrated imo.
As is shown when a pro player plays with a different grip for fun and doesn't have much trouble still playing extremely well. Also, look at Truls grip. As long as there is enough freedom in the swing to play all the different shots. Which there are in the penhold grip for Felix. The danger in the shots barely come from the grip. Okay, maybe I'm taking it a bit to the extreme considering the post above.

 

[Metaxa]

Harimoto: Make Cpen great again!

He's actually talked about how RPB loops came with sidespin that gives him such a hard time.

【卓球】張本智和「コントロールできなかった」独特“ペンホルダー”に苦しみ1回戦ストレート負け「また良い結果を出せるように」
https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/sports/038104beccbc4b2db7967d48c64769fa

(◇Table Tennis WTT Champions Macau (September 9-14, Macau, China)

Tomokazu Harimoto (World Rank 3) faced Xue Fei (World Rank 45/China) and lost 0-3 (8-11, 8-11, 9-11). He suffered a straight-sets defeat against a significantly higher-ranked opponent, resulting in his first-round exit.

In an interview after the match, Harimoto said, "I played him in February of this year and lost once. That was a tough match, so I made some preparations, but after he reversed the score in the first game... Each game was close, but I think my opponent was calmer."

Harimoto cited his inability to adapt to his opponent's style as the main reason for his loss. He particularly struggled against his opponent's backhand in this match.

"My opponent uses a penholder grip, which is unusual. The angles were different, making it difficult to adapt. His hitting style itself is unique, and I think I wasn't able to fully adjust to it. His backhand, in particular, was unique; I struggled to control it, trying to figure out how to hit it or prevent him from using it."

True, I believe him. Totally different ball-angle.