Zhang Jike or Tomokazu Harimoto... Who you picking?

[TableTennisDaily]

Hold everything!

A huge matchup is about to take place at the China Open! Zhang Jike vs wonderkid Harimoto! Who you picking?

Post your predictions below.

 

[matzreenzi]

Zjk ftw

 

[Badger]

Can they both lose, please?

 

[WorkerBee]

The man who has won everything vs the 14 year old boy who has beaten Timo Boll and Fan Zhendong. Could go either way. I love them both.

 

[drunix80]

Only ZJK. Zhaaaanng Jiiiiike Zhaaayo !!!

 

[Loopadoop]

Jike had a good win vs Quadri Aruna

Jike

 

[Lightzy]

Pretty sure Harimoto is going to defeat him handily

 

[Samsi Ayahnya Alifia]

another big challange for JK

 

[Andy44]

ZJK's playing better but still not good enough to win unless the kid chokes. Which he might, but I wouldn't bet on it. Harimoto wins 4-1.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Can they both lose, please?

I must say, I love this comment.

 

[ttmonster]

I would like Zhang Jike to win , but if I were a betting man I would bet on Tomokazu

 

[LordPippington]

Jike is going to out-craft the kid, and beat that screamer quite hastily! Actually, I'll give the youngster 2 games in total.

 

[lugi2000]

Imgonna say harimoto 4-2

 

[Sali]

It is difficult to sat how harimoto handle the chinese audience streaming ZJK. Japanese is very young and I think chinese girls screaming will affect his mentality.
Without the audience I think IT could be 4:0 for harimoto.

 

[mart1nandersson]

Harimoto 4-0

 

[ping fun]

It will be a tough match for zhang jike . Harimoto is in a good condition both physically and mentally but ZHANG JIKE IVES WHOLE OF HIMSELF IN EACH GAME , LIKE ITS HIS LAST GAME , so really hard to tell which one gonna win but certainly I want Zhang jike to win . Come on jike win this game

 

[JST]

Ooops, that was quick.

 

[mart1nandersson]

Harimoto 4-0

4-0

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Zhang Jike got badly spanked by Harimoto
a very embarrassing defeat for him. I'm afraid his comeback has just ended and it will be his last match. against the future world #1, and in front of the home crowd, it's a nice way to end

 

[JST]

Zhang Jike got badly spanked by Harimoto
a very embarrassing defeat for him. I'm afraid his comeback has just ended and it will be his last match. against the future world #1, and in front of the home crowd, it's a nice way to end

I disagree. Yes, it was ugly defeat but as you say Harimoto is top player so it's not total flop for ZJK. He managed second WT qualification in the row against decent opponents and if the goal is Tokio 2020 (anything else doesn't make sense) then it still can go on. To meet that goal he must climb step by step back to WR top 10, score well on WTTC next year and such defeat from Harimoto doesn't mean anything right now. Surely if he wants to end this could be good time as well

Looking at the match ZJK had problems with Harimoto's speed, receives were 50% too high and kid punished almost every opportunity. I guess if ZJK should succeed in such match he would need to prepare for Harimoto at least for one week, not one day. On the other side ZJK plaid well all the previous matches so he still can be somewhere WR #20-50 today. Let's see if he has full confidence from CNT to continue like this for the rest of the season or if they give him some sharp ultimatum (like SF/Final of next World Tour or you are out).

I'm just wondering how ZJK's cheerleaders here and other forums will cry and apologize the defeat this time