Singapore Smash 2026, Singapore, 2/19-3/1

[zeio]

MS SF
LYJ (8) 4-2 Moregard (5) (7, 12, 10, -5, -7, 8)
Same as in WTT F Hong Kong 2025, Moregard has been stuck with relying on his "creativity".

MS SF
WCQ (1) 4-1 F. Lebrun (-10, 8, 9, 5, 9)

3 years later and still the same.

 

[NetProphet]

FKL is something I came up on the spot.

But what does it mean?

 

[JackJohnson]

LYJ been doing well so far in the last 2 tournaments. Won the previous WTT Tournament and now another final as well. Starting the year with a bang after mixed results for the last 1-2years. I’m not expecting him to win against WCQ but hope he puts up a good fight. They are CTTSL teammates so they should be really familiar with each other.

 

[zeio]

Sabine wasted a large lead in G4. She called TO too late. It would have been a different match from 2-2.
Sabine is improving . She is not even very consistent yet with her anti yet can cause already so many problems to WMY

If she can achieve KKY level of consistency with anti together with her current FH she moves to the champ category

Not necessarily as Hayata admitted after leveling to 2-2 against SYS. Don't forget that KKY got shut down pretty bad by CIC first in WT and then WS at Asian Games 2022.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Not necessarily as Hayata admitted after leveling to 2-2 against SYS. Don't forget that KKY got shut down pretty bad by CIC first in WT and then WS at Asian Games 2022.

just yesterday Sabine took G4 from 1-2 and then the match to the other Wang…

Of course WMY > WYD .

I bet it will be harder for WMY next time not easier

 

[Shine]

just yesterday Sabine took G4 from 1-2 and then the match to the other Wang…

Of course WMY > WYD .

I bet it will be harder for WMY next time not easier

More matches for the top Chinese against atypical opponents trend easier generally, there'd be the once in a while scare of course. But a 80%+ WMY/SYS is beating anyone 9/10 times

 

[Janard]

Lol at the commentators also talking about the noise/cheers that the ShaTou fans bring

 

[M51]

I feel like Truls could have been a more serious challenger to WCQ. This looks like a first round match, not a final.

Not that Felix fared any better... Bummer.

 

[Metaxa]

Lin was virtually unrecognisable in the first two sets. This was probably down to Wang's performance, but Lin also made many unforced errors.

 

[Robin0910]

LYJ is getting absolutely dominated by WCQ yet again

 

[NetProphet]

It's impossible for current LYJ. He might push the Chu King but it's gonna be 4-2 at most.

I'd give Felix 2 sets, but as always everyone will come up short against the Chu King.

Looking like you got those both correct, unlikely to lose now at 3-0.
A very dominant performance from WCQ so far it has to be said- very very impressive!!!

 

[TTLOVE]

total domination... wow

 

[Metaxa]

Rarely seen Lin's BH so weak. Wang is the best left-handed player!

 

[banbekas]

Looking like you got those both correct, unlikely to lose now at 3-0.
A very dominant performance from WCQ so far it has to be said- very very impressive!!!

You need to step down as a prophet, my man. Crown me as the new one!

 

[Dr Evil]

Right now WCQ's main opponents are the two years between now and Los Angeles and the ghost of FZD.

 

[NextLevel]

You need to step down as a prophet, my man. Crown me as the new one!

I humbly concede the error of my predictions on this one.

 

[banbekas]

LYJ really has no answer for WCQ.

IMHO, his strongest weapons chiquita and fast backhand counterloop are useless against WCQ. LYJ uses those two to get "easy" points where those even overwhelmed Franziska and Harimoto. Especially since he changed blade and rubbers. Alas, WCQ neautralized those, effectively shutting down LYJ's game.

LYJ is losing out in everything else. His FH can't compete with WCQ, his serves aren't as effective because it's lefty vs lefty. His wit is definitely no Anders Lind's. LYJ is doomed against WCQ. Seems like only Harimoto is his real problem, somewhat real problem.

Maybe if FZD comes back. Even then, I'd say WCQ is more than enough to match him now.

 

[Metaxa]

LYJ really has no answer for WCQ.

IMHO, his strongest weapons chiquita and fast backhand counterloop are useless against WCQ. LYJ uses those two to get "easy" points where those even overwhelmed Franziska and Harimoto. Especially since he changed blade and rubbers. Alas, WCQ neautralized those, effectively shutting down LYJ's game.

LYJ is losing out in everything else. His FH can't compete with WCQ, his serves aren't as effective because it's lefty vs lefty. His wit is definitely no Anders Lind's. LYJ is doomed against WCQ. Seems like only Harimoto is his real problem, somewhat real problem.

Maybe if FZD comes back. Even then, I'd say WCQ is more than enough to match him now.

Lin's successful banana flips could be counted on one hand, especially in the first two sets. Almost everything from his backhand went over the table or into the net, and that was already during the second rally. So this was not a credit to Wang, but unusually poor play from Lin. After that, Lin's backhand improved slightly, but he was outplayed by WCQ in just about every aspect of the game.

 

[banbekas]

Lin's successful banana flips could be counted on one hand, especially in the first two sets. Almost everything from his backhand went over the table or into the net, and that was already during the second rally. So this was not a credit to Wang, but unusually poor play from Lin. After that, Lin's backhand improved slightly, but he was outplayed by WCQ in just about every aspect of the game.

At the level of LYJ, WCQ, LSD, TH, HC etc, there's no such a thing as unusually poor play, especially when talking about a player's coup de grace.

Would you say it was an usually poor play by Harimoto on his loss against Patrick? Nope. Harimoto couldn't handle Patrick's backhand quality.

Same thing applies here. WCQ's quality is the reason for said mistakes. WCQ is good against straightforward balls like that, especially when he's prepared for the said shot. I have no doubt that even Harimoto would have no answer for LYJ's fast backhand counterloop and Chiquita.

 

[zeio]

just yesterday Sabine took G4 from 1-2 and then the match to the other Wang…

Of course WMY > WYD .

I bet it will be harder for WMY next time not easier

That G4 actually highlights the biggest weakness of combination styles that is best described by the Chinese wisdom- 力敵不如智取/outsmarting rather than outfighting. Look no further than HKG vs GER at Tokyo 2020. There is a very specific range of shot quality that, when pinpointed, make combination styles helpless.

Ishikawa wasn't all that good against choppers before the ABS ball but somehow she had never lost to HY.