Japan Top 12 and WTTC 2019 Trial, 3/2-3

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

What is the score right now between Ito and Ishikawa? The live score on playerapp isn't working.

i won't watch live, FUJI TV has a special program

 

[NextLevel]

Losing from up 10-5 is part of the problem you know guys....

 

[zeio]

The match will start in 15 mins.

Up first, Mizutani vs Harimoto

The True 2019 All-Japan Championships Men's Singles Final under way.

G1, 0:4, 5:4, 5:5, 6:6, 8:6, 8:8, 8:9(Harimoto's net), 8:10, 8:11. Harimoto held onto it.
G2, 0:4, Harimoto taking his frustration out on Mizutani, 1:4, 1:6, 2:6, 2:8, 3:8, 3:11. MJ royally owned.
G3, 1:1, 2:2, 2:4, 3:5, 4:6, 5:7, 6:8, 7:9, 7:11. Mizutani got blasted off in fast rallies. Played his best to drag out the point by slowing it down but still...
G4, 1:3, 1:5, TO for MJ, took off his hi-tech glasses and bam, 4:5, 4:7, 6:7, 6:8, 7:8, 7:9(epic dropshot by Harimoto), 8:9, 8:10, 9:10, 9:11!!

Harimoto is the 2019 All-Japan Cham...oops, Japan Top 12 Champion. No chance for Mizutani. Outright slaughter.

 

[BlipBlop575]

At least Harimoto delivered, Even if Hayata and Ito didn't.

 

[zeio]

Ito vs Ishikawa starting in mins.

2:5, 5:5, 5:11. Teammate killer 1 off to a great start.

3:1, 3:3, 5:3, 8:4, 8:8, TO for Ito, 8:9, 9:9, 9:11. Teammate killer 1 2 games up.

13:11. Ito led in all these games but Ishikawa was so persistent.

6:2, 11:2.

2:2, 5:2, 5:5, 5:6, 6:6, 6:9, 8:9, 8:10, 9:11. Same thing. Ito led and blew her lead.

1:3, 1:5, 3:5, 4:6, 6:6, 7:6, 7:7(Ishikawa's net), 9:7, 9:9(Ito lost 2 on her serve), 9:10, 10:10, 10:11, 10:12.

Teammate killer 1 doing her name justice.

 

[BlipBlop575]

Ito vs Ishikawa starting in mins.

2:5, 5:5, 5:11. Teammate killer 1 off to a great start.

3:1, 3:3, 5:3, 8:4, 8:8, TO for Ito, 8:9, 9:9, 9:11. Teammate killer 1 2 games up.

I think you might be watching a replay, that match already ended hours ago with Ishikawa winning 4:2.

 

[zeio]

Yup, but still fun to watch it as if live.

 

[Vlad Celler]

Why is Hirano-Kato 3-2?

 

[zeio]

Best of 5 for 3rd place match.

 

[Vlad Celler]

Yup, but still fun to watch it as if live.

It is important - from Zeio there will be an interesting comment for this match ....

 

[Vlad Celler]

And the fact that Ito and Hayata lost ... Now Qatar Open is waiting for us .... But, of course, it will be much more difficult for Hayata ...Qualification ... In the third preliminary round (if the second one passes) - a meeting with the Chinese of the second team is very likely ...Yingsha, Xintong, HE, Juting ....

 

[zeio]

http://world-tt.com/ps_info/ps_report_detail.php?bn=1&pg=HEAD&page=BACK&rpcdno=2912#2912

●敗れた伊藤のコメント
「決勝の2ゲーム目はリードしていたのに取られてしまったのが残念。ラリー戦では8割くらい自分が得点している感覚で、それが収穫で、自信になった。平野さん、石川さんの二人と試合をやれる機会は少ないので、二人とやれて良かった。これからカタールオープンと世界選手権、中国オープンが勝負ですね。特にカタールと中国は人生を変える2大会になると思います」

Ito thinks dropping the 2nd game was demoralizing. She felt like winning 80% of the points, also pointing out that the chance to play Ito and Ishikawa is rare and she appreciated it. She actually thinks that Qatar Open and China Open will be life-changing, compared to WTTC?!

OTOH, Harimoto attributes his win to a much improved FH. It's true that many points were winners.

 

[Vlad Celler]

Thank !
(I did not see the game itself, only online followed the score ...)

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Harimoto was very decisive on his 3rd ball. He got many relatively weak receives from Mizutani and either killed the point immediately or got a huge advantage. His receive game was sharp and Mizutani had very few opportunities to attack first. It was total domination.

I felt Ishikawa FH had more power and spin than usual and she was really fast in her footwork because Mima moved her a lot. Mima was not as decisive with her serve and receive game as usual and rallies and I think thats why the match didn't go her way; She lost confidence when she was behind and when she was 8-4 ahead in the 2nd she thought she had won and stopped playing . From 0-2 down it became difficult. Mima made a lot of mistakes. Kasumi also had quite a few net-ins in her favour in the last 2 sets

 

[mrk]

http://world-tt.com/ps_info/ps_report_detail.php?bn=1&pg=HEAD&page=BACK&rpcdno=2912#2912

OTOH, Harimoto attributes his win to a much improved FH. It's true that many points were winners.

There is still a question mark against some underdogs when he feels more pressure to win the match, he struggled in the past against some lower ranked players. Players like Moregardh or Lin Yun Ju are a bigger threat. Or Pitchford, Freitas where he struggled last year.

 

[zeio]

There is still a question mark against some underdogs when he feels more pressure to win the match, he struggled in the past against some lower ranked players. Players like Moregardh or Lin Yun Ju are a bigger threat. Or Pitchford, Freitas where he struggled last year.

In the promo video, he actually said his mental toughness is a weakness. But given his ranking, the players above will have to first work their way through before meeting him.

 

[Vlad Celler]

https://www.facebook.com/1760511517525306/videos/822064901479830/

Hina Hayata. Interview after losing Kato.

 

[zeio]

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190302-00000188-sph-spo
http://sports.sina.com.cn/others/pingpang/2019-03-03/doc-ihsxncvf9318642.shtml

相手の緩急をつけた攻撃に「裏に裏に考え過ぎて空回りした。自分に勝つための対策に最後まで対応できなかった」と唇をかんだ。
...「レシーブが限定されてしまったというか、出せる技術が絞られてしまって。相手に最後待たれて打たれてしまったのが悪かった。自分の思い通りにいかなかったので、気持ちの面でも弱気になっていたと思う」
...「世界選手権に出ないとポイントも稼げないし、五輪もすごく遠くなるので、今の時点ではすごい厳しいかなというのはあるけど、その分、ワールドツアーでしっかり勝ち上がって、どんどん中国人選手に勝ってポイントを稼いでいくしかない」と、腹をくくっていた。

(For Kato's well-executed attacks,) I contemplated too much, causing the tactics to fail. I have not had a good solution to her countermeasures against me!
...My receive was completely shut by her serve today. I could not find a good solution. In terms of mental toughness, I was more vulnerable than my opponent.
...Not able to participate in the WTTC means I cannot earn more points, the Tokyo Olympics is getting farther and farther away from me. In the future, I can only defeat more Chinese players in the World Tour and earn more points (to improve the world ranking.)

 

[Sali]

Ito vs Ishikawa starting in mins.

2:5, 5:5, 5:11. Teammate killer 1 off to a great start.

3:1, 3:3, 5:3, 8:4, 8:8, TO for Ito, 8:9, 9:9, 9:11. Teammate killer 1 2 games up.

13:11. Ito led in all these games but Ishikawa was so persistent.

6:2, 11:2.

2:2, 5:2, 5:5, 5:6, 6:6, 6:9, 8:9, 8:10, 9:11. Same thing. Ito led and blew her lead.

1:3, 1:5, 3:5, 4:6, 6:6, 7:6, 7:7(Ishikawa's net), 9:7, 9:9(Ito lost 2 on her serve), 9:10, 10:10, 10:11, 10:12.

Teammate killer 1 doing her name justice.

Ok so how zeio is going to explain this situation: Kasumi is the best female japenese player in world ranking and best in national japan???
I know still she does not deserve to represent japan in world championships or olympics. The truth is that she has problems to overcome chinese players but she developed enough to beat all besides china, which Ito and Hirano have a lot of problems.

 

[Vlad Celler]

Many thanks Zeio for the translation!