ITTF Korean Open 2019

[NextLevel]

Generally, ML hasn't been as clinically sharp in the last couple of Pro Tours, certainly not close to his WTTC Budapest and China Open form. But then, no one can maintain their peak for months on end (not even ML who stated in a translated interview he doesn't know what his peak is.)

Despite ML's dominating record against everyone, the margins between these guys isn't as great as it seems sometimes. Small things/points here and there can make all the difference, which to me makes ML's dominance even more amazing.

Regarding the table, I also noticed that ML couldn't/didn't keep his serve receives as tight and several of XX's loops dipped below ML's racket indicative of a fast, skidding table. But XX played on the same table and his RPB was the significant differentiator in this match. We will never know, but even if ML had kept his serve receives tighter, the RBP was enough today to swing the match XX's way.

I agree with you, having made many of the points you have made in other contexts. I just hope they can do this again in Australia. It is hard when your best weapon is the short push to have it taken away from you so badly that all you can do is push long and hope your opponent misses.

 

[RidTheKid]

If they are in the same form in Australia I think the result will be the same.

I agree with you, having made many of the points you have made in other contexts. I just hope they can do this again in Australia. It is hard when your best weapon is the short push to have it taken away from you so badly that all you can do is push long and hope your opponent misses.

 

[NextLevel]

Or you can celebrate XX's short game which didn't "suffer" as much on this table. Maybe his short game is better than ML's or he was just better on this day. Still, good (or in this case great players) should be able to adapt and XX is perhaps better than ML at this as well this moment in time. But I seem to repeat myself; ML is not in form, and that explains his play atm.

He was so out of form that he signed up for an extra tournament to regain it.

Xu Xin taking a picture with that table was not an accident.

 

[NextLevel]

If they are in the same form in Australia I think the result will be the same.

I have no doubt that the table contributed to aforementioned form and that it will be a bit different with a normal table in Australia.

 

[NextLevel]

I care for all matches h2h between Federer and Nadal, not just the ones in the Grand Slams.

Sure. The ITF and ATP are related organizations. But Grand slams are best of 5 while regular matches are best of 3 nowadays so one can choose both records as saying something. The surface differences are also part of tennis so there are all kinds of distinctions people make to evaluate records. But most people would take the Grand Slam head to head if it was a large enough sample as being more relevant and the overall as a curiosity if it is said something radically different.

 

[RidTheKid]

I'm not gonna use the table as an excuse or explanation seeing how obvious ML's form has dipped since China Open. A DHS table wouldn't have made any difference today. They used another table in Japan and his match play during that entire tournament by his standards was bland to say the least.

I have no doubt that the table contributed to aforementioned form and that it will be a bit different with a normal table in Australia.

 

[Vlad Celler]

Unless LSW is tired out by her two doubles matches in the morning (but probably extra-motivated to avenge her Portugal Challenge loss though), Hayata will likely experience another first round exit. Sheesh, give this girl a break!

This time a little easier ... maybe ....
R-64 Hayta - LI Jiayi (China)
R-32 - Kopea/Japan....

Good luck!

 

[RidTheKid]

Same bodies, same minds. Who wins? That's all that matters. If you wanna inflate or deflate specific matches or tournaments that is your choice.

Sure. The ITF and ATP are related organizations. But Grand slams are best of 5 while regular matches are best of 3 nowadays so one can choose both records as saying something. The surface differences are also part of tennis so there are all kinds of distinctions people make to evaluate records. But most people would take the Grand Slam head to head if it was a large enough sample as being more relevant and the overall as a curiosity if it is said something radically different.

 

[Sali]

For me his record against WH does not matter. Somebody asked so I checked ittf site.
WH is much older then ML, so it is quite obvious that at the beginning WH won more matches then when he started getting old.
More important is who has the best ratio against him from active players since we are talking about possible threat for him I suppose.

 

[v100ev]

I'm so happy that Xu Xin won. He's been playing great lately - much more aggressive on the both sides. He still likes good rallies but he seems much sharper now. I believe that that's something that Chen Qi could have helped him with. He was super aggressive and I think that's the thing that Xu Xin didn't have before. I may be wrong but I'm still glad he won. (And also because I was a big fan of Chen Qi)

 

[NextLevel]

Same bodies, same minds. Who wins? That's all that matters. If you wanna inflate or deflate specific matches or tournaments that is your choice.

Of course there is some opinion involved. But my point is that the Grand Slam analogy is not entirely useless - after all, the Superleague matches are best of 5, while pro tour are best of 7. There were of course some best of 7 domestic events like the National Games and national champs. It is just the fact that people can't accept the head to head on the tour for what it is that makes me laugh. Given that more matches were played when Wang Hao was in his prime, it is logical.

 

[drunix80]

IMO, ML is playing around 70-80% of his level. He knows that quite well.He still has some injury issues and main reason for him to play these tour events is to maintain a high enough ranking till Tokyo 2020. It is not that he has lost a step or two due to age but rather conserving it for bigger battles in the future.

It is also true that table played a role in this event. I had been to the venue and this table looked like a shiny piece of marble from the stands.

 

[Brs]

Same bodies, same minds. Who wins? That's all that matters. If you wanna inflate or deflate specific matches or tournaments that is your choice.

The surface in tennis completely changes the game. It massively dwarfs any effects of table or ball in table tennis. Tennis going from clay to grass would be more akin to changing from inverted to sandpaper in terms of the scale. Better players are still better overall, but the order changes a lot, and specialists can thrive.

 

[yogi_bear]

And Chen Meng won!!!! Wohoaaaaaa!!!

 

[PatriciaPinheiro]

And Chen Meng won!!!! Wohoaaaaaa!!!

If she keeps like this and no injury hits her, I believe she'll be the next WCNT captain

 

[NextLevel]

If she keeps like this and no injury hits her, I believe she'll be the next WCNT captain

It took her forever to mature (she is already 25 unfortunately for her) vs the DN-LXX-LSW generation so she will only have 4 years if any. I suspect WMY and SYS will be the next champs and skip a generation.

 

[mart1nandersson]

Did they play with DF V40+? That surely must make a bigger difference than the table. I find it close to unplayable and barely passable for multi ball.

 

[PatriciaPinheiro]

It took her forever to mature (she is already 25 unfortunately for her) vs the DN-LXX-LSW generation so she will only have 4 years if any. I suspect WMY and SYS will be the next champs and skip a generation.

true that

for me, it all depend on Tokyo2020, DN started to 'lead' the equip after 26yo, after Rio (but with a big round gold medal and a silver from 2012), so I think is quite possible for her, if she goes to the Olympics and do well, but let's see, WMY and SYS has more room to develop than her (ignoring other names ofc)

 

[Zaid323918]

Any post-match interviews with ML or XX?

 

[Loopadoop]

Did they play with DF V40+? That surely must make a bigger difference than the table. I find it close to unplayable and barely passable for multi ball.

World Tour ITTF ball used DHS***D40+