Fan Zhendong's performance in the WTT Saudi Arabia Grand Slam this time is really amazing, first he was in the limelight all the way, easily taking away the first two games, but then it was "booming and declining", falling directly from heaven to hell. No, our national table tennis coach Liu Guoliang's face is more ugly than drinking half a catty of tartary buckwheat tea, this game is really a big surprise.
At the beginning of the game, Fan Zhendong was full of confidence, facing his opponent Francesca, he was like a bamboo, the score of 11-4 in the first two games was like an adult dealing with a child, it can be seen that Fan Zhendong is planning to do a big job. But who would have thought that the next plot was a 180-degree turn, Francesca began to find his form, and our Fan Zhendong seemed to have exhausted his luck in the first two games.
From the third game onwards, Francesca began to fight back, winning 11-6 and 11-8 in a row to tie the score. In the fifth game, the scene was so tense that people's palms were sweating, Fan Zhendong once got a 10-8 match point, but it was just a little bit close, and the opponent scored continuously and won the game with a 12-10 reversal. This feeling of slipping from the edge of victory is like eating the candy in your mouth and suddenly being sucked away, that taste, tsk, I feel stuffed when I think about it.
After this game, many people began to question Liu Guoliang's decision to give up Ma Long. After all, Ma Long is a real "god of table tennis", and although Fan Zhendong is strong, his recent form is a little wavering. The defeat in this Grand Slam seems to have made this skepticism even louder.
Having said that, Fan Zhendong's performance really made people sweat. The Paris Olympics are just around the corner, and instability at a time like this is not a good sign. In particular, he and Wang Chuqin were selected as the singles representatives of the Olympic Games, which is not a small pressure, and every match may directly affect the results of the Olympics.
Liu Guoliang's face was ugly this time, which also reflected his expectations and worries about Fan Zhendong from the side. After all, sacrificing a top player like Ma Long for the sake of the Olympic results, if Fan Zhendong can't make a difference in the Olympics, then this decision may become the target of public criticism.
But then again, isn't life just a challenge! Fan Zhendong's defeat this time, although it is distressing, may also be an incentive. Rise up from frustration to see the scenery beyond. On the battlefield of the Paris Olympics, Fan Zhendong still has a chance to prove himself and fulfill his dream of a Grand Slam.
All in all, this game, although a bit "heartbreaking", also reminds us that sports are always full of uncertainties, and every game is a new beginning. Both Liu and Fan need to learn from this experience and prepare for the challenges ahead. Let's wait and see if this young table tennis fighter can bring us more surprises and touches at the Paris Olympics.
After all, the charm of sports lies in the fighting spirit of never giving up and the possibility of turning the tables against the wind. Although Fan Zhendong is a little disappointed today, he will definitely be a sonorous and powerful counterattacker tomorrow. We wait to see him write his own brilliant chapter with his racket.