WTT Singapore Smash 2024 3/7-3/17

[NextLevel]

Lee Zion is a good candidate after her performance at WTTC 2024. Stepped up and won all her matches besides the one against China while Shin Yubin faltered. I don't recall any other KNT third singles performing so well in recent times.

She has to fit in doubles or play the singles spot. That's the challenge, and I suspect if Joo Cheonhui was eligible, this would be less of an issue.

 

[zeio]

WS R64
Li Yu-Jhun 1-0 -> 1-3 Chien Tung-Chuan
Li's body language after dropping G3 says it all. Similar to the match against LHC at the WTTC 2024. Not gonna cut it at Paris 2024.

 

[driversbeat]

No more coach Ito, whitehead has no more excuse to quiet quit.

Miu/Miwa are the Wang Yidi of Japan.

 

[zeio]

WD R32
A. Mukherjee/S. Mukherjee 1-0 -> 1-2 -> 3-2 Hirano/Harimoto

While I still think this pair doesn't work, Harimoto is a much-faster learner/much-less stubborn player than Ishikawa.
Harimoto was quite hesitant in G1 and there were multiple points in which she didn't know what return to expect and hence where (FH or BH side) to move.
But startig from G2, under the lead of Hirano, she started to find her groove and got up to speed.
Hirano got a lot of points from serving heavy backspin and Harimoto started to get the hang of playing longpips/antispin blockers by either playing no-spin (faux loop) or heavy-spin loops.

G5 23, 33 Harimoto's inexperience showed when she wanted to kill the loose ball in one go, 34, 54, 55, 75 Hirano was forced to take risks on 2 receives and TO for JPN, 95, 97 Harimoto stepped up on 2 receives, 98, 108, 109, 119
Double Mukherjee caught on to the fact that Hirano as striker (mostly looping)/Harimoto as assist (mostly pushing) from G4 onward and aimed at Harimoto.
From this match and the WT F at WTTC 2024, it's clear Harimoto is still young to shoulder the burden.

 

[zeio]

Miu/Miwa are the Wang Yidi of Japan.

WYD: Don't even think about it. I lose in straight games. No one can best me!

 

[zeio]

MS R64
WCT 1-3 M. Yoshimura

LSS 3-1 LGY
Not an upset despite the ranking difference.
Absurdly small sample size?
2011-2023
LSS 5 H2H 5 LGY

WS R64
Fu Yu 2-3 CSY
Kihara 1-3 CIC

Pavade 3-2 DHK
G5 107, 1010, 1210
Acceptable with a strained thigh from WTTC 2024.

 

[Shine]

WD R32
A. Mukherjee/S. Mukherjee 1-0 -> 1-2 -> 3-2 Hirano/Harimoto

While I still think this pair doesn't work, Harimoto is a much-faster learner/much-less stubborn player than Ishikawa.
Harimoto was quite hesitant in G1 and there were multiple points in which she didn't know what return to expect and hence where (FH or BH side) to move.
But startig from G2, under the lead of Hirano, she started to find her groove and got up to speed.
Hirano got a lot of points from serving heavy backspin and Harimoto started to get the hang of playing longpips/antispin blockers by either playing no-spin (faux loop) or heavy-spin loops.

G5 23, 33 Harimoto's inexperience showed when she wanted to kill the loose ball in one go, 34, 54, 55, 75 Hirano was forced to take risks on 2 receives and TO for JPN, 95, 97 Harimoto stepped up on 2 receives, 98, 108, 109, 119
Double Mukherjee caught on to the fact that Hirano as striker (mostly looping)/Harimoto as assist (mostly pushing) from G4 onward and aimed at Harimoto.
From this match and the WT F at WTTC 2024, it's clear Harimoto is still young to shoulder the burden.

It's their first time meeting such a unique pair, so I think we can cut them some slack.

 

[Gozo Aruna]

This is the last straw; I'm calling my vendor and asking him to send over some anti-spin rubber. 🤬

 

[turbozed]

Lind gave Dang Qiu a run for his money but came up short 11-9 in the 5th game.

So many good players going out in the first round. Meanwhile there are some 3rd tier players matched up with players sneaking in through qualifiers. Matchmaking really needs some tweaking.

 

[dingyibvs]

View attachment 28694
This is the last straw; I'm calling my vendor and asking him to send over some anti-spin rubber. 🤬

The issue with pips is that once you play a lot, you start losing effectiveness. Look at Batra, went winless against China in the teams match despite being by far the highest rated player in India, and just now completely demolished by WYD who lost 0-3 to Akula just a few weeks ago.

 

[Shine]

The issue with pips is that once you play a lot, you start losing effectiveness. Look at Batra, went winless against China in the teams match despite being by far the highest rated player in India, and just now completely demolished by WYD who lost 0-3 to Akula just a few weeks ago.

Does Akula use the same kinda pips combination as Bartra??

 

[zeio]

It's their first time meeting such a unique pair, so I think we can cut them some slack.

All too familiar. The same was said for Ishikawa/Hirano during Tokyo 2020 cycle. But as a table tennis player myself, it's possible to tell with a fair level of confidence after a few times (4, tops).

Hirano gives the false impression that she is poor in WD and XD when she is actually good, having won the Opens and WTGF with Ito (Guinness World Records of youngest-ever) early on, and the Opens and WTT series with Hayata later on. She actually paired with Miwa's brother for a while in 2018 and the two reached the XT F at Buenos Aires 2018 without dropping a match. The reason for that impression, as revealed by Baba over the breakup of Ito/Hirano and the switch to Ishikawa/Hirano for WTTC 2017, is that Hirano was too fast (see quote below).

Even Hayata couldn't keep up at the table but since she can bide her time from getting off the table, and most if not all her other teammates lack that ability, so Hirano is left without a lot of compatible players to pair. The same is true for Ito who gives the false impression that she is good in WD and XD, but if you look up her results, she has actually won the most with Hirano or Hayata in WD and Morizono or Mizutani in XD. Other than that, her results with other teammates, specifically Fukuhara, Ishikawa, Kizukuri, Niwa (in 2019) and Uda were far less spectacular.

But as poor as the pair of Ishikawa/Hirano (1, 2, 3), they still managed to push WMY/SYS to the final game in WD QF at WTTC 2021, where Hirano also pushed CM to the final game in WS R16, the 2 matches that convinced me to believe in her odds for Paris 2024.

https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/sports/198112

しかし、一昨年は国際大会４度の出場で３度が頂点に届かず準優勝。昨年の全日本では初戦敗退を喫した。コンビ解消の理由について、馬場美香監督は「最近、伊藤・平野ペアを見ていて、平野が速いプレーをすると敗戦するケースが増えた」と語り、こうも話した。

「（現段階では）日本の女子選手を見ると石川、平野、伊藤が世界ランクベスト１０に近い。今回の選考は東京大会を考えてのもの。（五輪で金メダルを取るためには）ダブルスが非常に重要なので。石川と組ませて左右（左利きと右利き）ペアにすることで、東京五輪で中国に勝てるペアにしようと考えました」

For reference:
WJTTC 2013, JGD R32, A. Mukherjee/S. Mukherjee 3-1 Hirano/Ito (-6, 11, 9, 1)
Qatar Open 2018, CXT/SYS 3-2 Hirano/Ito (5, -8, -6, 7, 8) (their last international competition as a pair)
Austrian Open 2018, Hayata/Ito 3-0 CXT/SYS (6 ,7 ,8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDmRYXWyUcY

 

[zeio]

WS R64
Diaz 3-2 Matelova

MS R64
Moregard 3-1 Togami
Aruna 1-2 -> 3-2 LJH
F. Lebrun 3-2 Matsushima
G5 41 TO for Matsushima, 51, 52, 62, 63, 73, 76, 96, 98, 108, 109, 119

WS R64
Lily Zhang 1-3 Harimoto
G4 55, 75, 76 faint corner edge for Harimoto, 77 medium net for Harimoto and TO for Harimoto?, 711

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

It's their first time meeting such a unique pair, so I think we can cut them some slack.

I agree. Not only unique, but they're an accomplished pair. It's time we recognize India has just gotten really, really good in both doubles and singles. Sreeja Akula is a rising star in singles as are the Mukherjees in doubles. Ayhika even beating SYS once is quite an accomplishment in itself, and Surtitha just lost deuce in the 5th vs. YXX, a perennial top 15 player.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

We all know how good Felix is, but the 172cm Matsushima is making really good progress as well.

 

[zeio]

The issue with pips is that once you play a lot, you start losing effectiveness. Look at Batra, went winless against China in the teams match despite being by far the highest rated player in India, and just now completely demolished by WYD who lost 0-3 to Akula just a few weeks ago.

Ito: I approve.
WYD: Ahem, I'm 4W0L against Batra.
Akula: Don't lump me together with that washed-up fossil.

 

[turbozed]

We all know how good Felix is, but the 172cm Matsushima is making really good progress as well.

It's a matchup we're probably going to see often in the future, and right now looks like an even odds matchup.

 

[sky500]

I already like this Singapur Smash. So many upsets and interesting parings from the beginning. LGY losing seems to be pretty wild, too.

Does Akula have only anti spin rubbers or mixed?

 

[NextLevel]

Does Akula use the same kinda pips combination as Bartra??

I believe so, but you can't believe everything you read on the internet...

 

[zeio]

3rd seeded players out now after Mittelham and Hayata.

WS R64
Szocs 1-0 -> 1-3 Sawettabut
WR10/10th seed vs WR44
G2 67, 69, 89 TO for Sawettabut, 911 net for Sawettabut
G4 25 TO for Szocs, 27, 37, 39, 69, 611

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...-be-revamped-for-paris-2024.24977/post-446361

As DHK said at the end of 2022 (12/08/2022 at 7:20am), she didn't handle her mindset well after reaching her new high of WR7. Therefore, those with "mismatched" continental points would be under higher pressure, especially when coupled with the lower seeded players in WTT events.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-singapore-smash-2024-3-7-3-17.33147/post-446960

How do you expect the top players just outside of seeding to increase their ranking like this? By playing tons and hoping for a good draw? Several top players with mismatched continental points have played double the events.

https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024_10_SEN_WS.html
Number of events:
5 Hayata, 17
7 SYB, 20
9 Diaz, 17
10 Szocs, 17
11 HY, 9
12 Ito, 9
13 YXX, 12
15 CIC, 13
16 Mittelham, 14
17 Harimoto, 13
18 Hirano, 11
19 YJN, 14

https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024_9_SEN_WS.html
Number of events:
5 Hayata, 18
8 SYB, 21
9 CIC, 14
10 HY, 10
11 Diaz, 18
12 Szocs, 18
13 YXX, 13
14 Ito, 9
15 Harimoto, 14
17 Hirano, 12
18 Mittelham, 14
19 YJN, 15