WTT Doha Star Challenge After the first round of the main competition, the main players of the national table tennis will all appear in the men's singles round of 32, although compared to the finals, the schedule of the Star Challenge is too protracted, but there are many main players of foreign associations and national table tennis to participate, which still makes such an event more attractive to fans, and such an event is more intense and exciting. Let's take a look at the matchups of the players who advanced to the top 32 of the men's singles, as well as the analysis of the prospects for promotion.
In terms of the main force of national table tennis, first of all, Fan Zhendong, as the world's No. 1, was divided into the upper half. But Fan Zhendong also suffered a curse, why is it a curse? Because in 2018, when Fan Zhendong was in a slump, he once met two players, one was Francesca from Germany, and the other was Zheng Rongzhi from South Korea, and these two players did give Fan Zhendong a huge test when Fan Zhendong was in a slump.
Fan Zhendong's form has been inconsistent in the Doha Star Challenge, but he met Francesca again in the round of 32, and this match is undoubtedly a curse for Fan Zhendong, and whether he can break the curse depends on whether he can overcome himself. The other match is a duel between Lim Zhongxun and Huang Zhenting, and it is very likely that Lin Zhongxun will break into the round of 16 and meet Fan Zhendong again, which is another Korean player Fan Zhendong met in a sluggish state. In fact, on the way to promotion, Fan Zhendong is not easy to play in every game, and I hope Fan Zhendong can adjust himself as soon as possible.
In the half of the 2/4 district, Liang Jingkun actually has many very tough players, no less than the opponents Fan Zhendong faced. In the first round, Fan Zhendong will face Shinozuka Daito, a matchup between national and Japanese table tennis. Although Shinozuka Daito is not strong, he is also the third candidate for the Japanese table tennis Olympic team qualification.
In this half, Liang Jingkun may also meet one of the players between Zhang Benzhi and Lin Yunru, which is a match that Liang Jingkun must win before advancing to the semi-finals, which is a very big test for Liang Jingkun.
In the second half of the top 32, Lin Gaoyuan and Ma Long are in the half of the district, in fact, their main opponent is still the civil war of national table tennis, Ma Long and Lin Gaoyuan just met in the finals, Lin Gaoyuan won the final victory, but because the two sides are very familiar, if they meet again, then there is uncertainty about who wins. And will one of the top four spots be Lin Gaoyuan and Ma Long?
In the lower half of the top 32, in the half of the top 32, where Wang Chuqin and Zhou Qihao are located, will the two of them be able to meet? In the battle for the top four, there are still great influencing factors. First of all, Zhou Qihao faced Qiu Dang is a very tough opponent in the 1/16 finals, Zhou Qihao's strength is no problem, but his mentality and on-the-spot response cannot be played vividly in the game with the main force of the foreign association.
Fans said that Zhou Qihao should not miss the opportunity given to him by the national table tennis, Zhou Qihao is a backwater battle in every game, if he can defeat Qiu Dang, then the winner of Hugo Gao Chengrui's duel will face Zhou Qihao, which will be another huge test, I hope Zhou Qihao can make persistent efforts.
Wang Chuqin's opponent in the first round of the 1/16 finals is Ahn Jae-hyun, which is the best among the Korean teenagers, after all, he is already an experienced player, however, in the face of Wang Chuqin, it is now in the heyday of Wang Chuqin, and his serve and forehand and backhand strength can be said to be among the best in today's table tennis world, so Wang Chuqin is the first choice for this semi-region to advance to the semifinals.
In summary, Fan Zhendong will face a tough opponent in the top half of the bracket, and if he wants to advance to the final, then he will face the winner between Liang Jingkun, Tomokazu Zhang and Lin Yunru. Therefore, Fan Zhendong's promotion road is full of thorns, but this is also the only way to win the championship.
In the second half of the district, Lin Gaoyuan, Ma Long and Wang Chuqin should be candidates for the finals, the difference in strength between the three is not large, and they are very familiar with each other, who can advance to the final depends on the performance of the on-the-spot response.