As the second WTT Grand Slam on the calendar and the first international table tennis event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the 2024 WTT Table Tennis Grand Slam Saudi Arabia is a milestone. The tournament came to an end last weekend with five individual titles each, so let's take a look at some of the stars who have made a splash in the tournament.
2024 WTT Table Tennis Grand Slam Men's Singles Champion Wang Chuqin and Women's Singles Champion Chen Meng
Wang Chuqin won the triple crown of the 2024 WTT Table Tennis Grand Slam in Saudi Arabia on his birthday, and consolidated his status as the world's No. 1 brother. One of the most dominant players in singles and doubles, the 24-year-old's performance in Jeddah was the perfect follow-up to his maiden WTT Grand Slam men's singles title in Singapore in March. There is no doubt that Wang Chuqin will now have his sights set on winning the 2024 WTT Table Tennis Grand Slam in China later this year.
Wang Chuqin won the triple crown of the 2024 WTT Table Tennis Grand Slam Saudi Arabia on his birthday
At the inaugural WTT Singapore Grand Slam in 2022, Chen Meng brought her best form to the biggest stage. When WTT's next Grand Slam event was held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chen Meng stood up and made his mark on the inaugural event. In the final, Chen Meng ended a seven-game losing streak against world No. 1 Sun Yingsha, and finally overcame many difficulties to win the first WTT Saudi Arabia Grand Slam women's singles championship, and is expected to jump to the world ranking No. 2 in the world ranking on the 14th.
Franziska had a fantastic run in Saudi Arabia.
The WTT Grand Slam has also become a stage for many non-top players to pursue their dreams. Just ask Germany's Patrick Franziska about that. Wildiska, seeded 16th, saved two match points against Fan Zhendong and survived, and then reached the men's singles final to become the biggest dark horse. Although he lost to Wang Chuqin in the men's singles final and finished as runners-up, he became the first non-Chinese player to reach the men's singles final of a WTT Grand Slam, and the runner-up result also ensured him to enter the men's singles world top 10 for the first time.