WTT Singapore Smash 2025 (30 Jan ~ 9 Feb 2025)

[5545]

Wang Manyu no, but Chen Xingtong was clearly in her range. The thing is that Chen Xingtong figured out how to play her but didn't have the discipline to execute it consistently. I think if Sun Yingsha watched that match and plays more to the middle to limit the angles, she will do well.

CXT lost a bit of her consistency she had last cycle that made me think she should have been a real olympic candidate.

I am so looking forward to KM and LSD winning, so both wins 3 titles and really expect zeio to start a WCQ and SYS must retire thread.

nothing better than a new year, and 2 new players taking the titles

It is far to early for SYS and WCQ's retirement even if they lose a few matches.
OTOH, I am surprised Zeio has not started a retire thread for WYD, who has blew most of the precious opportunities her country gave her during the Paris cycle and unfortunately is/was almost useless for the CNT even if she happened to be a core member, nor is she a favourite for LA.

 

[Brs]

I don't think KM has a chance. SYS can run down those balls

Idk. Yidi could easily have beaten SYS today, was deuce in 7th. Who is playing better rn, Yidi or Kuai Man?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

CXT lost a bit of her consistency she had last cycle that made me think she should have been a real olympic candidate.

It is far to early for SYS and WCQ's retirement even if they lose a few matches.
OTOH, I am surprised Zeio has not started a retire thread for WYD, who has blew most of the precious opportunities her country gave her during the Paris cycle and unfortunately is/was almost useless for the CNT even if she happened to be a core member, nor is she a favourite for LA.

the same aged Japanese players loose 1 match, despite being top in the world/japan are deemed retireable.
so I'm just using the same logic for the sake of fairness
and you are right, WYD.... haha

and because retirement is now reserved for japanese players, they now come up with a "removal from world ranking", to make it a different whatsapp group

 

[NetProphet]

I give a small edge to Lin for tomorrow's final. Liang can use the same tactics today in beating WCQ against Lin, which is sustaining the initial attacks and engaging rallies away from the table. Lin does have a very strong long distance games but that also is Liang's main strength.
Also, like Zhou Qihao, Liang performs better against his teammates than against non-Chinese players, a civil war hero. Today's winning against red hot WCQ is a good example.
With that said, Lin though still very young, plays a mature game way beyond his age. Unlike WCQ, he's not gonna his opponents easy points.

My money says LSD is too quick and recovers too many balls for LJK to have a chance.
I'll give him 1 set maximum.
Let's see 😁

 

[rpb23]

Very interesting to notice in the deciding game in the women double final, the current best female player Sun committed at least 5 unforced errors, contributed greatly to the loss of the crown. Before that, she was also the player who contributed the most kills and tough shots, the main reason to force the decider. It just shows, even the best player is quite capable of playing like error prone mortal.

is it time for Sun to retire? Absolutely not. She is no doubt still head and should above everyone else, even QM can beat her tomorrow.

 

[rpb23]

I have to say, like LSD who has no doubt already has solid footing in the top two spots in the Chinese men's team, very likely one of two 2028 Olympic single player representing the nation, Quai Man is moving fast in the same direction like Lin. Though QM's rise took a lot longer than expected with lots of ups and downs, she is clearly here to stay, sounding a not so friendly alarm to other top players like WMY, WYD and CXT.
WMY seems not in top form entering this Singapore Smash. However, swept by QM is still a surprise, a testimony of how far QM has come.
QM's most improvement shows in her very noticeable speed upgrade, which brings her improvement of her shots quality and consistency.

 

[rpb23]

My money says LSD is too quick and recovers too many balls for LJK to have a chance.
I'll give him 1 set maximum.
Let's see 😁

I am more generous giving Liang two games.

 

[joshmak10]

Liang seems to have a fire lit under him after the Dima scare. But LSD is too much on form for him to beat

 

[rpb23]

Also notice LSD scored a large portion of points against A Lebrun by just pushing. The anticipated mid-long distance missiles exchange didn't occur that often. In stead, we saw an agitated and angry Lebrun and his coach vs. the cool acting LSD calmly placing the ball wherever he wanted.

Also LSD rarely served with the controversial hook-serve. Maybe with Lebrun was playing his old reckless way, he didn't need to. The failieu to close second game for Lebrun really sealed his fate and disrupted his mind set.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Very interesting to notice in the deciding game in the women double final, the current best female player Sun committed at least 5 unforced errors, contributed greatly to the loss of the crown. Before that, she was also the player who contributed the most kills and tough shots, the main reason to force the decider. It just shows, even the best player is quite capable of playing like error prone mortal.

is it time for Sun to retire? Absolutely not. She is no doubt still head and should above everyone else, even QM can beat her tomorrow.

I agree she's the current best female player, but if she were head and shoulders above everyone else, she would be the Paris Olympic champion. Even now, it was a coin toss between her and WYD. We'll see how she does tomorrow... current #1 vs. potential future #1.

 

[NetProphet]

Also notice LSD scored a large portion of points against A Lebrun by just pushing. The anticipated mid-long distance missiles exchange didn't occur that often. In stead, we saw an agitated and angry Lebrun and his coach vs. the cool acting LSD calmly placing the ball wherever he wanted.

Also LSD rarely served with the controversial hook-serve. Maybe with Lebrun was playing his old reckless way, he didn't need to. The failieu to close second game for Lebrun really sealed his fate and disrupted his mind set.

Good points on that match 👍

My reading of it was Alexis went in with a now or never mentality in that he just knew that he had to bring his absolute best game to win and so he was playing on the limit which is a risky strategy. When a few things don't land, you hit too net and LSD bounces back almost everything you do land then frustration came quickly.
He actually did well though and wasn't wiped away in any set. It's a compliment that LSD had to play so well to win 8,10,7,11.

 

[5545]

I agree she's the current best female player, but if she were head and shoulders above everyone else, she would be the Paris Olympic champion. Even now, it was a coin toss between her and WYD. We'll see how she does tomorrow... current #1 vs. potential future #1.

She is already head and shoulders above everyone else.......in fanbase and has "surpassed the title of olympic champion"

 

[NextLevel]

Idk. Yidi could easily have beaten SYS today, was deuce in 7th. Who is playing better rn, Yidi or Kuai Man?

Anyone with a strong backhand can give Sun Yingsha problems if they play right. Wang Yidi qualifies. Lefties, Kuai Man would be a first for obvious reasons.

 

[der Stift]

So far, KM is the only (?) CNT woman players that receives and plays with different paces and strikes, which is fun to see. At least, she is not a total trained robot.

True to her name 蒯曼 , pronounce as Kuai Man (快慢)
meaning fast and slow.

 

[NextLevel]

Kuai Man vs Wang Manyu 2023 CSL

 

[NextLevel]

I am not sure this will work anymore, so I think Kuai Man has a bigger chance than I realized. But Sun Yingsha is her CSL teammate so that must count for something as well. But Kuai Man lost to Chen Xingtong in Super League as well so this is definitely new territory.

 

[NextLevel]

How in the world did Shi Xunyao beat KM 4-0 to take the title at Contender Muscat? I guess KM just wanted t to peak at Singapore Smash.

Because Xunyao Shi is obviously a strong player who for some reason (maybe key losses, maybe because she isn't a lefty) isn't getting opportunities.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Because Xunyao Shi is obviously a strong player who for some reason (maybe key losses, maybe because she isn't a lefty) isn't getting opportunities.

At some point this year, as long as SXY gets the opportunities, I've no doubt she'll be visiting the top 10. She is too good not to be.

 

[dingyibvs]

Because Xunyao Shi is obviously a strong player who for some reason (maybe key losses, maybe because she isn't a lefty) isn't getting opportunities.

I think she played in the last contender. The CNT just has too much talent. Kuai Man got the wildcard spot over her, presumably by beating her in said tournament (3-2 in Muscat). If you left out KM in favor of SXY then you might have people crying about how the CNT doesn't value merit 🤭

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

I think she played in the last contender. The CNT just has too much talent. Kuai Man got the wildcard spot over her, presumably by beating her in said tournament (3-2 in Muscat). If you left out KM in favor of SXY then you might have people crying about how the CNT doesn't value merit 🤭

KM beat SXY 3-2 in SC Doha in QF. In the most recent tournament, Contender Muscat, SXY beat KM 4-0 in the Finals. Both are deserving of a wildcard here, but KM got it. She's in a really good rhythm but has to get through the final boss, SYS. Top 10 is becoming China/Japan only club.