Saudi Smash 2024

[kindof99]

Can ML pull an amazing comeback?

 

[vvk1]

Can ML pull an amazing comeback?

No, he wasn't playing against LGY.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

incredible from Jang!

 

[kindof99]

incredible from Jang!

This was like LSS VS ML in the WTTTC

 

[NextLevel]

Somewhat lost in the results is Kihara's fine win over SYB. Congrats Miyuu!

View attachment 29657

Not lost at all, since no one is going to retire despite requests to do so, the question is whether Shin Yubin can maintain the top 4 ranking for the Olympics and avoid China before the semis. For me, what I find interesting is that Miwa is likely to be the #4 in the Olympic seeding but will not play singles - will they let her give her seeding to Hirano?

 

[kindof99]

Any more CNT players down today? Probably not. CM and WYD coming

 

[NextLevel]

Sweden showing they have a legit XD team for medalling purposes. Or maybe Korea should change theirs?

 

[zeio]

The WTT legend continues.

List of seeded-players-turned-tourists:
R64
WS
Bajor 3-2 Szocs (9) (-6, -9, 10, 7, 7)
Diaz (11) 1-3 Polcanova (-5, 11, -9, -10)
MS
CCY 3-0 LYJ (7) (6, 8, 3)
Freitas (14) 0-3 Nicholas Lum (-9, -6, -7)

R32
WS
Kihara 3-0 SYB (7) (6, 5, 6)
Batra 3-1 WMY (2) (-6, 5, 7, 10)
MS
LJK (4) 2-3 Alamiyan (12, -6, 8, -9, -5)
Groth 3-1 LGY (6) (8, 7, -12, 11)
JWJ 3-0 ML (11, 6, 8)

 

[Gozo Aruna]

First it was Lim Jonghoon, now it is Jang Woojin, the new giant killer!!!

Something is cooking in the Korean camp.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

First it was Lim Hongjoon, now it is Jang Woojin, the new giant killer!!!

Something is cooking in the Korean camp.

kimchi

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Not lost at all, since no one is going to retire despite requests to do so, the question is whether Shin Yubin can maintain the top 4 ranking for the Olympics and avoid China before the semis. For me, what I find interesting is that Miwa is likely to be the #4 in the Olympic seeding but will not play singles - will they let her give her seeding to Hirano?

Good point. Kihara really helped Hirano tremendously by beating SYB in R32. In this tournament, if Hirano were to meet and beat CM in the next round, she would meet Miwa in the QF. R32 finish is worth 90 pts, QF 350 pts, and SF 700 pts. An additional 350 pts between QF and SF would go a long way to narrow the gulf between Hirano and SYB (currently 724 points according to the Race to Paris 2024 rankings projection). So far it's just a hypothetical, but an awkward situation for both Miwa and Miu if it comes to fruition.

 

[Robin0910]

I believe Jang Woojin and Jeon Jihee are a better pair

 

[NextLevel]

Good point. Kihara really helped Hirano tremendously by beating SYB in R32. In this tournament, if Hirano were to meet and beat CM in the next round, she would meet Miwa in the QF. R32 finish is worth 90 pts, QF 350 pts, and SF 700 pts. An additional 350 pts between QF and SF would go a long way to narrow the gulf between Hirano and SYB (currently 724 points according to the Race to Paris 2024 rankings projection). So far it's just a hypothetical, but an awkward situation for both Miwa and Miu if it comes to fruition.

Hirano beating Chen Meng is not going to happen. They just paved the way for CM to play singles and it's going to take more than Hirano to stop her (or maybe they will conspire to help Hirano stop her to bring back Wang Manyu - I love conspiracy theories...)

 

[zeio]

大膽假設，小心求證。

SYB taking on 3 events at Paris 2024 is going to be a train wreck.

XD R16
Karlsson/Kallberg 3-2 LJH/SYB (10, -8, 9, -8, 15)

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/saudi-smash-2024.33519/post-457786

Not so lucky this time. 3rd seeded player out on women's side after Szocs and Diaz.

WS R32
Kihara 3-0 SYB (6, 5, 6)
Match duration 18 mins

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...-be-revamped-for-paris-2024.24977/post-446273

OTOH, SYB will lose 280 pts from WTT CT Tunis 2023 on 6/25, so she is facing a lot of pressure as well (1410 pts). Given her trajectory in this cycle, it's pretty obvious her body is not the type that can endure this kind of intensity. She is ranked 4th in Olympic qualification ranking right now as a result of careful planning. There is still a lot of uncertainty.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-singapore-smash-2024-3-7-3-17.33147/post-447945

How did SYB reach the QF?

 

[Emin]

The saudis must have cast a Magic Debuff Spell on the CNT upon entering the country or something.

 

[zeio]

Look up the history of Qatar Open and you would understand.

 

[Dr Evil]

Hirano beating Chen Meng is not going to happen. They just paved the way for CM to play singles and it's going to take more than Hirano to stop her (or maybe they will conspire to help Hirano stop her to bring back Wang Manyu - I love conspiracy theories...)

Agree. Good chance Chen Meng plays Hirano, Harimoto and Hayata in succession on her way to the finals. If she beats those three in a row I think the singles spot is hers.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Agree. Good chance Chen Meng plays Hirano, Harimoto and Hayata in succession on her way to the finals. If she beats those three in a row I think the singles spot is hers.

Maybe this is a good thing for Japan if CM plays singles at the Paris Olympics. Both Hirano and Hayata have a win against CM although Hirano's win was from 2017. Neither has a win vs. WMY according to ITTF's H2H results. Oh the conspiracies!

 

[zeio]

Alkhadrawi/Goda is much more skilled than expected, especially the former.

 

[NextLevel]

Alkhadrawi/Goda is much more skilled than expected, especially the former.

Alkhadrawi is a beast of sorts, I remember him because he either beat or challenged a highly skilled Nigerian (I think it was Bode Abiodun) - definitely not chopped liver and on a good day is world class.