In the 2024 WTT Doha Men's Finals, Fan Zhendong suffered a 0-4 defeat to Wang Chuqin, a match that attracted widespread attention and discussion. Liu Guozheng, the former head coach of the national table tennis men's team, and Wang Chuqin himself made a profound analysis of this.
Liu Guozheng pointed out that Fan Zhendong's performance in the game was too steady and even conservative. He believes that Fan Zhendong is too passive in handling some balls and does not give full play to his offensive advantages. Fan Zhendong opted for more ball rubbing and swinging short, which gave Wang Chuqin the opportunity to take the lead in the attack. Liu believes that if Fan Zhendong could have attacked more aggressively, the outcome of the match could have been different.
Wang Chuqin showed strong offensive awareness and technical strength in the game. He dared to fight hard in the game, even in the face of dangerous balls, he was able to deal with them calmly, and showed excellent saving ability. Wang's courage and skill made him more and more courageous in the competition, and finally won the victory.
Wang Chuqin mentioned in the post-match interview that he maintained a good mentality in the competition, participated as a challenger, and did not feel too much pressure. He also highlighted his relaxation and enjoyment in the game, which helped him perform better at his level. Wang believes that his mentality and relaxed style of play are the key factors that will allow him to win.
Fan Zhendong believes that he has not done a good enough job of controlling the game situation and handling the key points. In particular, when leading in the middle of the first game, he failed to take advantage of his chances, which led to a reversal of the situation. This gave Wang a chance to stabilize his mentality and build pressure in the subsequent matches.
Fan's performance in the bout showed that there was a problem with his technique. He didn't dare to play aggressively in the game, resulting in a high return shot, which made it easy for opponents to seize opportunities to attack. Fan Zhendong's passivity has kept him at the bottom of the game. His defensive strategy, while solid, was sparse against aggressive opponents.
In addition to technical deficiencies, Fan Zhendong also faces challenges in psychological quality. In the game, he appeared to be overly cautious and lacked the necessary adventurous spirit. This mentality made him lack the courage to attack at critical moments and could not effectively turn the situation. If Fan Zhendong can't adjust mentally and dare to fight and attack, it will be difficult for him to win in future matches.
From a technical and tactical point of view, Wang Chuqin did a better job of holding offense, with a slight advantage in his connection speed and handling of the first three boards. Fan Zhendong relies more on the quality score of the board. Wang Chuqin conducted an in-depth study of Fan Zhendong's style of play and effectively used the corresponding tactics on the court.
This match is not only a contest of technology and tactics, but also a duel of psychological quality and game strategy. Fan Zhendong's conservatism contrasted sharply with Wang Chuqin's aggressive offensive strategy. This match provided valuable experience for table tennis players, especially on how to adjust their mentality and strategy at a high level. For Fan Zhendong, it was an opportunity to learn and Xi and grow, and for Wang Chuqin, it was an important demonstration of his technical and psychological qualities.