Latest Rankings

March 26, 2023

(by Steve Hopkins) In the latest ITTF Rankings, Fan Zhendong, Ma Long and Wang Chuqin continue to hold the top three positions. In fact, when you include Liang Jingkun at No. 7 and Lin Gaoyuan at No. 12, and Lin Shidong at No. 19, China holds almost a third of the Top 20. Japan’s Tomokazu […]

When to Serve Long

March 20, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) At the lower levels, most players serve long both because they haven’t learned to serve short effectively yet, and because opponents aren’t yet skilled enough to attack them consistently and effectively. As you reach higher levels, long serves become less effective if used too often. But if used at the right time, […]

Singapore Smash: Fan Repeats as Champion

March 20, 2023

(by Steve Hopkins) World No. 1 Fan Zhendong and World No. 2 Ma Long seemed destined to meet in the Final. Both swept through the early rounds almost unchallenged – with Fan not losing a game until the Quarterfinal and Ma Long not losing a game until the Semifinal. Ma Long continued to cruise with […]

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Folsom Table Tennis Club

March 20, 2023

(By Steve Hopkins) The Folsom Table Tennis Club has two locations in Folsom, California to the Northeast of Sacramento. The Folsom Sports Complex location has ten tables and there are twelve more at the Rusch Park Community Center Gym location in Citrus Heights. Between the two locations, the Folsom Table Tennis Club serves about a […]

Singapore Smash: Calderano Joins Top 3 Chinese in Final Four

March 18, 2023

(by Steve Hopkins) World No. 1 Fan Zhendong rallied to beat Truls Moregard 4-2 to reach the Semifinals on Friday. Fan was up after the first game, but Moregard won two in a row to take the lead. The fourth game was pivotal, as Moregard couldn’t convert on two match points on his way to […]

Singapore Smash: Final 8

March 16, 2023

(by Steve Hopkins) Five of the ITTF’s Top 10 reached the Quarterfinals as the third elimination round concluded today at this year’s Singapore Smash. However, since all ten of those players competed, that means there have already been five big upsets. Tomorrow’s quarterfinal pairings are Fan Zhendong v. Truls Moregard, Wang Chuqin v. Lin Gaoyuan, […]

Singapore Smash: No Shortage of Surprises in Final 16

March 15, 2023

(by Steve Hopkins) With all ten of the ITTF Top 10 in attendance, there are no easy matches at this year’s Singapore Smash. In the first round, only one of the Top 10 fell. We have now finished two full rounds in the Main Draw and there is no shortage of surprises. Ovtcharov was the […]

Study the Player, Not the Ball

March 13, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) I’ve always wanted to implant a camera in the eyes of up-and-coming players to record what they see when they watch top players play. They should see all sorts of great technique and tactics, right? But I’m afraid what I’d actually see is this. Yes, all they’re really watching is the ball […]

ITTF World Rankings – With an Eye Towards 2024 Teams

March 12, 2023

(by Steve Hopkins) The ITTF Rankings come out every week. Sometimes its interesting to watch large jumps (up or down) as new players burst on to the scene, and sometimes its important to follow a more nuanced slow climb as points are accumulated and players carefully pick and choose events. With all of the top […]

First Round Action at Singapore Smash

March 12, 2023

(by Steve Hopkins) With all ten of the ITTF Top 10 in attendance, the WTT’s Singapore Smash is the most competitive tournament of 2023 thus far. Of those players, only Ovtcharov was upset in the opening Round. Ovtcharov fell victim to Shunsuke Togami (the 21-year-old, fast-rising Japanese star who recently won the All-Japan Championship). Ovtcharov […]