The 2021 season has come to a perfect end, and looking at the performance of the past year, Fan Zhendong should have both joys and worries. First of all, the happy place is to win the men's singles championship of the National Games, the World Table Tennis Championships, and the WTT World Cup Finals, further consolidating his position as the world number one. Worryingly, Fan Zhendong lost to Ma Long and lost the men's singles final of the Tokyo Olympics. For Fan Zhendong, this battle is not only a succession battle, but also a key battle to impact the Grand Slam.
If Fan Zhendong had won the Olympic men's singles title at the time, he would have achieved a Grand Slam by now. Missing this opportunity, Fan Zhendong can only wait until the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to have the opportunity to impact the Grand Slam. Can Fan Zhendong, who is only close to the Olympic men's singles champion, become a new Grand Slam player? Let's analyze it in detail.
Combined with Fan Zhendong's current state and strength, as long as Fan Zhendong can play steadily, he can basically lock in a Grand Slam player's seat. The reason for this judgment is mainly due to the following two aspects.
First, Fan Zhendong has locked a ticket to the Paris Olympic Games
After the Tokyo Olympics, the men's national table tennis team has obviously accelerated the pace of the replacement of the old and the new. Ma Long and Xu Xin have always been participating in selective competitions, and it is not realistic for two 30+ veterans to fight for another Olympic Games. Fan Zhendong, as Ma Long's successor, has always placed high expectations on him. From the current strength and state, Fan Zhendong can basically lock in a singles ticket for the Paris Olympic Games, when he is likely to take on the burden of national table tennis.
Second, Fan Zhendong has the strength to impact grand slams
At this stage, the competitive situation of the men's team is already very clear, the Mesozoic players Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan, Zhou Qihao and other people lack strong psychological qualities, and the post-00s young player Wang Chuqin lacks enough experience in the competition, and the only one who can really create a threat to Fan Zhendong is Ma Long. However, Malone is now 30+, and the test of physical condition and competitive status will become more and more important, even if he does not choose to retire, he may slowly fade out of the national team. Compared with the young general, Fan Zhendong has the advantage of experience and strength; compared with the Mesozoic players, Fan Zhendong is more calm.
Not only has obvious advantages within the national table tennis, Fan Zhendong is also difficult to meet opponents in the international arena. Zhang Benzhihe, Lin Yunru, Hugo, Ocharov and others are all strong opponents of national table tennis on the road to the championship, and Fan Zhendong has defeated them many times in previous competitions, occupying a certain strength and technical advantage.
The Paris cycle belongs to Fan Zhendong's cycle, as long as he can play steadily, steadily improve, achieve Grand Slams, and even achieve higher honors, it is only a matter of time sooner or later. Bless Fan Zhendong, come on!
(I'm a guy, follow me, let's talk about the ball!) ）