I'm more interested in seeing ML vs FZD one last time! Hope they don't pair ML and WCQ in doubles so it remains possible that we see WCQ and ML vs FZD as the ultimate boss fight for FZD to secure his place in the GOAT conversation.
Pairing ML and WCQ doesn't make a difference, the real issue is whether ML wants to play the first singles or the second singles and whether the match score allows for him to face FZD. Huang is a lefty so he is not playing doubles with WCQ unless you want to run a science experiment. Unfortunately, ML has always played first singles and gotten Zhou Kai. I don't think Shanghai wants him to face Xu Xin, so Shanghai has no incentive to change. What Shanghai is hoping for is that FZD gets them two wins, and if they can keep the doubles advantage, that wins it.
Oh so you want Huang and ML to play doubles? Okay. But it is most likely that only one will play against FZD anyways. Having both play FZD is not to Beijing's benefit.
As easy as China makes it look to be at the top of table tennis, it is not that simple. Real players struggle with many things from equipment (table/ball) changes to travel to sleep cycles to new opponents etc. There is zero need to argue that FZD wasn't trying in the Bundesliga to explain his results. Even Mizutani would tell you that there is a discomfort that comes with playing in a foreign league and dealing with varying conditions and opponents that you cannot control. There is a reason why China replicates the playing hall at every Olympics it plays in so that its players can get practice under conditions similar to playing.
Link is not working for me either at the moment. Probably related to internet outages lol. But I see the MLFM Youtube channel is scheduled to stream at 8pm central though I don't know what matches/events.
I found it quite strange that the men get an extra day rest before finals. Maybe they should have done womens and mens bronze medal match today and finals tomorrow
