Zhang Benzhihe roared angrily and slammed the racket hard, his eyes scanning his opponent fiercely. This is a small episode in the mixed doubles semifinals of the WTT Saudi Arabia Grand Slam 2024. In what is considered to be a preview of the mixed doubles final at the Paris Olympics, China's Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha swept past Japan's Tomokazu Zhangmoto/Hina Hayada 3-0 to advance to the final.
Before the game, it was widely believed that it would be a battle of the dragons. As the men's singles champion of the Tokyo Olympics, Tomokazu Zhangmoto's strength should not be underestimated. And Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha are the top combination of the national table tennis year. The two sides have only met once before, at the 2022 World Cup, when the Chinese beat the Japanese 3-2. High hopes were placed on this contest.
The situation after the opening was beyond everyone's expectations. At the beginning of the first game, Wang Chuqin took the initiative. His serve put a lot of pressure on his opponent, and Tomokazu Zhang's backhand backhand was suppressed by Wang Chuqin for the second time. Sun Yingsha also seized the opportunity and played the ball fast and hard at the front desk. Soon, the Chinese pair led 11-4.
Tomokazu looked a little scrambling, and he didn't find a feel for his serve and attack. Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha's cooperation is more tacit, and they are comfortable with each other and the handling of the first three boards. With a steady play, the Chinese team won the first game 11-5.
At the beginning, Tomokazu Zhang temporarily regained his form, and his serve and first attack became more aggressive. Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha did not relent, the two sides went back and forth, and the field once fell into a white-hot fight.
After the score came to 6 draws, Tomokazu Zhangmoto's feeling began to decline again. A reluctant backhand downspin ball was seized by Sun Yingsha, and several wonderful upper hand attacks expanded the score to 10-6. After that, Wang Chuqin kept the rhythm on the court, and the Chinese pair won the game 11-7.
Entering the decisive game, Tomokazu Zhangmoto's emotions began to get a little out of control. In a standoff, one of his swings was seized by Wang Chuqin and he accurately released a small ball. Zhang Benzhihe couldn't chase after him, so he roared angrily and smashed the racket hard.
The hiccups on the field seem to have affected Tomokazu Zhangmoto's form. He made low-level errors on his serve and first attack, while Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha played more calmly. Their cooperation on the court seems to be self-taught, sometimes Sun Yingsha plays a fierce attack in the front desk, and sometimes Wang Chuqin plays steadily in the background, forcing the opponent into a desperate situation.
Soon, the Chinese pair won the tiebreaker 11-4 and swept the Japanese pair with an aggregate score of 3-0 to advance to the final. After the game, Zhang Benzhihe's face was ugly, and he left the field in a hurry, not even stopping for an interview on the sidelines.
The semi-final victory made Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha the favourites in the mixed doubles event at the Paris Olympics. In the final that followed, they defeated Hong Kong's Wong Chun-ting/To Hoi-king 3-0 to win the title. Wang Chuqin even won the men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles championships of this station, becoming the triple crown.
Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha's outstanding performance in this Grand Slam, their tacit cooperation. Whether it is holding the ball, handling the first three boards, or grasping the timing of the attack, the two of them have a good heart, as if they know each other's every move well.
They played consistently on key points. In the semi-finals against Tomokazu Zhangmoto, the Chinese duo did not become complacent after taking the lead, but remained highly focused, seizing every opportunity to pull the score away. This tenacious fighting spirit has made them perform many miracles in the competition.
Then there is the flexibility of the two on the field. Wang Chuqin is good at controlling the rhythm and creating pressure on the opponent with the serve; Sun Yingsha is good at attacking at the front desk and catching her opponent off guard. Sometimes they attack, sometimes defensive, and they are so varied that they make the opponent unguardable.
For Tomokazu Zhangmoto's loss, in addition to the problem of his own state, it also reflects that he and his partner Hina Hayada still need to improve their tacit understanding. In terms of key points, Tomokazu Zhangmoto's emotions were also a little out of control, which undoubtedly affected the performance.
As the men's singles champion of the Tokyo Olympics, Tomokazu Zhangmoto's strength is beyond doubt. I believe that through this lesson, he will make adjustments in the next competitions and be fully prepared for the Paris Olympics.