Why do you keep misinterpreting my posts (twisting my words)? I start to find it insulting.
Ma Long is the GOAT because he's winning, highest win % ever in TT. That's what TT is about. Not is he plays beautifully. It's an added bonus.
I'd love for someone to prove me wrong, but no one has even tried. You guys are just trying to find faults in Ma Long being the GOAT. I ask again: who is the GOAT if you choose?
But even ML admitted a higher winning percentage didn't mean much in the major. It's more than stats. I'd love for someone to prove Ma Long wrong.
Say from 2012 on, I actually had more wins against Wang Hao in the usual tournaments. But in this kind of major, it is not just about techniques, but sometimes more about your mentality, your mindset.
...Say I played well, it’s a bit shameful, but say I didn’t play well, when in fact, I usually played very well. Why not this time? So, all I could do was walk away in silence.
And then there's this interview with Wang Tao back in 2011, less than 2 months before WTTC Rotterdam, that addressed why ML didn't get to play in singles at the Olympic 2012. WT is biased af but he makes it clear what you need to play in Olympic singles.
http://news.cntv.cn/special/fd/20110331/103966_print.shtml
我曾经也说过马龙排名世界第一，我们不认可他这个排名世界第一，他是打公开赛得来的，马龙一个冠军都没拿过世界冠军，王皓拿了无数了，就说这种，虽然排名世界第一，打公开赛挣来的这个分，没有说这种大赛中单打冠军世界杯没拿过，世锦赛没拿过，亚运会这刚拿一个 ，赢了王皓，几乎没有拿过重大比赛冠军，这对你经历不好，你要奥运会之前，你这些冠军不拿不好。
...另外你2012年，一个路走下来很难，为什么?今年面临着5月份世界锦标赛单项在荷兰，王皓上届单打冠军，两年以前的单打冠军，你这届不拿冠军，凭什么报你伦敦奥运会，是不是?这个就是考试了，平时的学习怎么样，技术考你了，你拿冠军必报无疑，刘国梁必报你，谁拿冠军肯定这名额就定了，是不是?单打冠军这个名额肯定就定了...
I said once that Ma Long ranks 1st in the world. We don't recognize him as the World No. 1 player. He got there by winning in the Opens. Ma Long has never won a world title. Wang Hao has done it countless times. He might be the World No. 1, but he earned the points from the Opens, he has never been a singles winner in the major. No World Cup, no WTTC. He took the Asian Games by beating Wang Hao. He has almost never won any major titles. This is not good for your experience. Before the Olympics, not getting these titles is not good for you.
...In addition, for 2012, it's a very difficult path. Why? Because of the WTTC in May, the individuals in the Netherlands. Wang Hao is the defending singles champion.
If you don't win the WTTC, on what basis do you get selected for the London Olympics? Right? This is the exam. This is the time to find out how you've been studying.
You win the WTTC, you get selected 100%. Liu Guoliang will pick you 100%. Right? Whoever claims the title, that quota will be fixed. Right? Singles Champion and the quota will definitely be fixed...
And he said that again right after the WTTC.
http://sports.163.com/special/zhuanfangwangtao/
网易体育：在第三名的位置上是不是马龙呢？很多人不看好马龙，虽然他技术很强，但每一次我们都没有看到他在关键时刻成熟起来。
王涛：马龙一度排名过世界第一，排名世界第一的马龙是中国一哥，我一直不这么认为，马龙在我的印象中没拿过单打的世界上任何一项比赛冠军，只是公开赛上拿了很多冠军，积分才超越了王皓，我不认为他是真正的排名世界第一。
我这句话可能会伤到马龙，其实马龙也跟我聊过，很认可我讲的，世界杯我没拿过，锦标赛我没拿过，奥运会哪怕拿过一次呢？马龙单打还没拿过，都没进过决赛，最好的就是世锦赛第三，从技术水平来讲，马龙现在是非常全面的选手，还得要加强他自己内心的东西。
网易体育：是不是他也需要张继科这样一种释放、升华的机会？
王涛：我觉得马龙还是有点点对自己不狠，没有把自己的潜力挖掘到顶点，他的技术水平，包括他的技术含量……你看王皓如果输给马龙，张继科跟马龙打，我肯定会倾向马龙胜，因为张继科所有的技术，马龙都不怕，打球就是一物降一物，很难说，张继科也不怕王皓，就看技术上哪方制约得比较好，在决赛中碰到对手时，首先要摆正自己的位置，要拼，第二，要看录像，分析他的技术，第三就是要调整好自己的心态，休息好，好多队员就是在赛前紧张，休息不好，想太多，这样会影响体力、影响发挥。
Netease Sports: Is Ma Long in the 3rd spot? Many people are not optimistic about Ma Long. Although he is very skilled, but so far he's failed to step up at the crucial moment.
Wang Tao: Ma Long once ranked 1st in the world. Ma Long, being ranked 1st in the world, is the Chinese alpha male? I have never thought so. Off the top of my head, Ma Long has never won a singles title in any of the majors. He's only won many in the Opens, and so his ranking points surpassed Wang Hao. I don't think he is the true World No. 1.
My comment may hurt Ma Long, but in fact, Ma Long has also talked to me and agreed with what I said. I haven’t won the World Cup. I haven’t won the WTTC. But I have won the Olympics once? Ma Long has not won in singles yet, has not reached the final, and his best is 3rd place at WTTC. In terms of technical level, Ma Long is now a very comprehensive player, but he still needs to strengthen his mentality.
Netease Sports: Does he also need a chance to release, to sublimate like Zhang Jike?
Wang Tao: I think Ma Long is still not harsh enough on himself. He has not tapped into his potential to the utmost. His skill level, including his technical content...You see, had Wang Hao lost to Ma Long, and Zhang Jike were to meet Ma Long, I would definitely lean towards Ma Long to win, because Ma Long is not afraid of Zhang Jike. It's just like the predator-prey relationships. It is difficult to say. Zhang Jike is also not afraid of Wang Hao, so it depends on which side does better in suppressing the other technically. When facing the opponent in the final, first is to get your attitude right, to fight. Second, to watch the video, analyze his skills. Third is to adjust their mentality, rest well. Many players are nervous before the match, and not getting a good rest, thinking too much. That will affect the physical strength and performance.
