Fan zhendong, Ma Long and Cheng Meng announces Retirement from WTT/ITTF

[Musaab]

Don't You worry, there be new golden boys...

Cheers
L-zr

Honestly I don't think so, I think this generation including ZJK and XuXIN is the greatest, the new generation LeBrun and Truls don't do it for me , even if I reckon they are very very good players. The new CNT members just the same , WCQ for me feel slike just any other match of any two pros

 

[yamagata]

There seems to be some kind people running WTT - or not.

 

[yamagata]

Honestly I don't think so, I think this generation including ZJK and XuXIN is the greatest, the new generation LeBrun and Truls don't do it for me , even if I reckon they are very very good players. The new CNT members just the same , WCQ for me feel slike just any other match of any two pros

Like music, new artists doesn't compare to Dylan and Springsteen or Elvis. Everything was better before

 

[zeio]

Why?

Roger Federer & Eason Chan vs Zhang Zhizhen & Fan Zendong Exhibition Highlights! | Shanghai 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkv45WZHaz4

Roger Federer Plays Table Tennis With Zhang Zhizhen, Fan Zendong, and Wang Liqin 🏓
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNpSVelO2KM

Zhang Zhizhen Makes Chinese Men's Tennis History | 2024 Wimbledon First Round
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJbPSvwn8hU

陳奕迅 Eason Chan | 上海勞力士大師賽 | 追星全紀錄 Vlog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfV6yKRezYQ
《孤勇者》（《英雄聯盟：雙城之戰》動畫劇集中文主題曲）陳奕迅 Eason Chan [Official MV]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlp8XD0R5qo
Eason Chan - “这样很好 (Isha’s Song)” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n68BF6IlGhk

 

[banbekas]

It's not too late for Fan to play Tennis and become a pro🤣

 

[olive-nguyen]

No more Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Timo Boll. The end of a golden age.

Sad 😔

I do hope that the up and rising Truls Möregårdh and Lebrun brothers still provide hope for this sport.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

so it just sank in

Both Paris Olympic champions are retired...

 

[olive-nguyen]

Sad 😔

I do hope that the up and rising Truls Möregårdh and Lebrun brothers still provide hope for this sport.

That being said we'll all miss the time seeing Xu Xin, Ma Long and Boll in play.

 

[olive-nguyen]

In a sense it's like an end of an era, and count in Joo Se Heuk too. The defensive playstyle was really something. Now of days it almost seems that it is back and fourth ripping forehands, ending with "chole"!


Let's not forget the 2000s and early with Ma Lin and Ryu Seung Min.

 

[Robin0910]

Well, due to the new WTT monetary policy Ma Long will also likely announce his retirement soon unless CNT wants him to stay since FZD retired but I highly doubt that’s the case.

 

[RomanAngerer]

Like music, new artists doesn't compare to Dylan and Springsteen or Elvis. Everything was better before

Just a bunch of old men grumping about how everything old was good, and everything new is bad.

Classic

 

[Gtsnake]

Is his "retirement" from WTT signal a discontent with the league or just his own personal time line (burn out)?

I had a feeling he was leaning that way due to his many off court appearances. He's taking time to do things to relax instead of nose to grindstone concentration to move up in rankings.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

One of the greats!

 

[KiwiPong]

It's not too late for Fan to play Tennis and become a pro🤣

Will he ever try pickleball? lol

 

[andzejgolot]

In a sense it's like an end of an era, and count in Joo Se Heuk too. The defensive playstyle was really something. Now of days it almost seems that it is back and fourth ripping forehands, ending with "chole"!


Let's not forget the 2000s and early with Ma Lin and Ryu Seung Min.

This is era of hidden hook service to the forehand and then diagonal ripping shots
* First legit hook service was made by Artur Daniel from Poland*
* First englishman backhand was made by Artur Daniel from Poland
* First backflip around the leg shot was made by Michal Murawski also know as Muraw kurwa ja pierdole, the greatest chopper of the generation"
I dont care about Fan retired as when you can find a lot of fun players to watch

 

[Gtsnake]

It seems he retired from both WTT and ITTF. So that's a full complete retirement from Pro Table Tennis.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

It seems he retired from both WTT and ITTF. So that's a full complete retirement from Pro Table Tennis.

that is correct

he could technically unretire, and restart with 0 rating point.
win one major, and get 1000 points and back in the top in the world.

But what is the purpose to that?
maybe I should check if I should organize leagues for him in Europe

 

[Dr Evil]

Don't You worry, there be new golden boys...

Cheers
L-zr

I'm sure. But Ma Long and Timo Boll especially connect all the way back to Waldner. FZD is the last champion in that incredible lineage that spanned multiple major equipments changes and an evolution (or some might say devolution) in playing styles. It feels a little bit like when Ivan Lendl took over the number one ranking from John McEnroe, bringing an end to the wooden racket era in tennis and the beginning of the domination of the power baseline style.

 

[NextLevel]

It's clear to me based on the recent post translation that he hasn't retired from WTT permanently. He has the Olympic medal as leverage and can return to the tour on his own terms in a year or two or just be nominated by China to play if necessary.

 

[zeio]

WTT proves commercialization doesn't work, says North Korea

LOL