WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2024 06/11-16

[TampaBayTableTennis]

way to go Lily!!!

 

[zeio]

WS R32
Lily Zhang 3-2 Kim Nayeong (-8, 8, -7, 11, 10)

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...der-zagreb-croatia-june-3-9.34126/post-462753

Szocs isn't the problem. Like SYB (stuck at 1820 pts as projected), Diaz and Mittelham, Szocs has been playing like crap. So it depends on Lily, who managed to cause a fatigued Hayata some serious headache at WTT CS Chongqing 2024.

 

[OvrChkn]

Insane rallies between Kirill and Darko. Definitely a match to rewatch

 

[NextLevel]

Darko loses go Kiril. Another tough Bundesliga match but I feel for Darko since this is his home tournament.

 

[zeio]

No eye see. How many BH loopkills caught the top of the net in deuce?

MS R32
Falck 3-0 Togami (8, 8, 11)

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/2024-wtt-contender-zagreb-croatia-june-3-9.34126/post-463115

Harimoto actually did the right thing there, learning from his painful lesson against LJK at WTTC 2023. When it gets really tight, those loopkills wouldn't be so easy to execute for Togami, even more so at Paris 2024.

Like Hirano, Harimoto played with a set of rules here, trying out certain tactics, whereas Hayata and Togami played like they normally do, relying on brute force.

 

[fore.n.back]

No eye see. How many BH loopkills caught the top of the net in deuce?

MS R32
Falck 3-0 Togami (8, 8, 11)

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/2024-wtt-contender-zagreb-croatia-june-3-9.34126/post-463115

I'm so freaking done with Togami rn, how many more times does he have to set every single one of his points with his backhand? Clearly Falk wasn't afraid of backhand exchanges, when Togami pulled his forehand out he at least had some advantages and the hit rate improve, down the line shot also gave high success rate as well. And neither him nor Tasei on the bench was able to figure it out, just stubbornly serve to Falk's bh to rallies or serving in the middle of the table to look for bh killshot which all failed miserably.

Well, there's a reason why Sora and Hari are called geniuses while others aren't

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

I'm so freaking done with Togami rn, how many more times does he have to set every single one of his points with his backhand? Clearly Falk wasn't afraid of backhand exchanges, when Togami pulled his forehand out he at least had some advantages and the hit rate improve, down the line shot also gave high success rate as well. And neither him nor Tasei on the bench was able to figure it out, just stubbornly serve to Falk's bh to rallies or serving in the middle of the table to look for bh killshot which all failed miserably.

Well, there's a reason why Sora and Hari are called geniuses while others aren't

Togami and Shinozuka are useless… they should have chosen Sora…
It’s a miracle if men’s team japan gets a bronze medal

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Can't fall asleep on Ma Jinbao ... He's up 2-0 atm on Anton Kallberg.

 

[fore.n.back]

Togami and Shinozuka are useless… they should have chosen Sora…
It’s a miracle if men’s team japan gets a bronze medal

Actually I think letting Sora take a longer road can be beneficial. He has more time to grow under less pressure and complete his tactics, LA 2028 should be his main stage rather than Paris

 

[OvrChkn]

Jinbao won! What a performance.

I saw him do a regular pendulum serve on the very first point and started to question reality.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

amazing win for Jinbao Ma!

 

[NextLevel]

Poor Sweden, the only player playing well is the one not going to the Olympics lol.

 

[v100ev]

Poor Sweden, the only player playing well is the one not going to the Olympics lol.

I think it's the same for a lot of countries.. So everything seems balanced

 

[zeio]

WS R32
Hirano 3-1 SHW

You've got to admit that JNT players are now better than CNT players at playing defenders. Fukuhara and Ishikawa didn't lose in vain at Rio 2016. JTTA should feed Sato and Hashimoto for the rest of their lives.

Hirano for her depth-/spin-reading ability (last point of the match was not easy for someone her height), Hayata for her brawn, Ito for her brain, Nagasaki, Kihara and Harimoto...

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-champions-chongqing-2024.34066/post-461543

It's not the first time SYS is troubled by Bergstrom.

Forget Hayata and Hirano. Sato and Hashimoto for Paris 2024!

 

[zeio]

I'm so freaking done with Togami rn, how many more times does he have to set every single one of his points with his backhand? Clearly Falk wasn't afraid of backhand exchanges, when Togami pulled his forehand out he at least had some advantages and the hit rate improve, down the line shot also gave high success rate as well. And neither him nor Tasei on the bench was able to figure it out, just stubbornly serve to Falk's bh to rallies or serving in the middle of the table to look for bh killshot which all failed miserably.

Well, there's a reason why Sora and Hari are called geniuses while others aren't

Togami was promising at the start of the Paris 2024 cycle. Uda as well. Both of them are great at MD. But then Togami's lack of TT quotient slowly became more noticeable. I first noticed it when he lost to Jorgic at Singapore Smash 2022 after leading 2-1 in games to blow the 7:3 lead in G4. From then on he started losing to European players in similar fashions and he never fixed it...

 

[zeio]

Togami and Shinozuka are useless… they should have chosen Sora…
It’s a miracle if men’s team japan gets a bronze medal

Shinozuka was even more promising than Togami, having won 2 WTT titles (beating Jarvis and Jorgic in the finals) and reached the later rounds much more, but then a herniated disc wiped his form and momentum away in 2023. His win rates in 2022 and 2024 are not shabby.

Other than 2023, Matsushima's overall stats for the Paris 2024 cycle are actually really bad. He is not ready and has not shown the psychological maturity (his body language is often poor) to step up when under pressure other than WTTC 2024 when players weren't familiar with him.

MS win rate as of 2024/4/21
Togami
Overall 64.04%
2024 61.54%
2023 61.54%
2022 62.50%
2021 76.92%

Shinozuka
Overall 66.67%
2024 70.00%
2023 53.85%
2022 76.92%
2021 69.23%

Matsushima
Overall 60.98%
2024 42.86% (should be a bit higher now)
2023 70.00%
2022 0.00%
2021 33.33%

 

[FIXPOINT]

 

[FIXPOINT]

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Shinozuka was even more promising than Togami, having won 2 WTT titles (beating Jarvis and Jorgic in the finals) and reached the later rounds much more, but then a herniated disc wiped his form and momentum away in 2023. His win rates in 2022 and 2024 are not shabby.

Other than 2023, Matsushima's overall stats for the Paris 2024 cycle are actually really bad. He is not ready and has not shown the psychological maturity (his body language is often poor) to step up when under pressure other than WTTC 2024 when players weren't familiar with him.

MS win rate as of 2024/4/21
Togami
Overall 64.04%
2024 61.54%
2023 61.54%
2022 62.50%
2021 76.92%

Shinozuka
Overall 66.67%
2024 70.00%
2023 53.85%
2022 76.92%
2021 69.23%

Matsushima
Overall 60.98%
2024 42.86% (should be a bit higher now)
2023 70.00%
2022 0.00%
2021 33.33%

Shinozuka might still have a problem with his back. But whatever the reason he is not performing and yes, mentally he looks weak. I've read his interviews and he's not talking like a champ

His nickname is Shinopi = (Snoopy) , which tells you something

Sora has been improving recently or at least displaying his potential but yes his attitude and body language often seem negative / counter-productive.

personally i thought JNT would have chosen him as the 3rd player and giving him a freepass due to his low age, but he was too far away in the race.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

I don't think the stats tell the whole story. Shinozuka has played more Feeders so his percentages are going to be higher. Togami still deserves the #2 spot as he has had some really good wins too don't forget: Tomo, LSD, LJH, CSD, Hugo ... but as we've seen he's not exactly the most adaptable.

This one is a tough call though. Sora's ceiling might be the highest of all the Japanese men. But his floor is shaky. Sora has good doubles skills as he and Miwa actually beat Tomo/Hayata at Contender Muscat. But his aloofness and negativity can affect his partner when things aren't going their way. If he could clean up that aspect and just be more supportive, he would be so much more valuable as a team member. You can see he has a lot of self confidence, an area that Shinozuka needs to work on. I expect to see him in LA 2028 as his floor should be raised by then.