Another giant has fallen in Doha. World No.139 Gaia MONFARDINI produced one of the biggest shocks of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2025, overcoming the vastly more experienced No.28 seed Doo Hoi Kem in a dramatic seven-game encounter: 4-3 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 4-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7).
Facing DOO for the first time, MONFARDINI showed no signs of intimidation, taking the opening two games with fearless, high-risk play. But the Hong Kong star found her footing and stormed back with three straight wins, appearing to have turned the tide.
Backed into a corner, MONFARDINI refused to back down. Digging deep, she took the sixth game and raced into a commanding lead in the decider, eventually sealing the upset with relentless composure.
Still shaking moments after the match, the Italian was visibly emotional:
“I’m not sure what to say anymore. It’s crazy. I knew I was playing well against her, but I didn’t expect this, even when I was leading. I never dared to think that I could win this.”
She added:
“This win confirms that I can trust myself, as there have been many times I doubted. Sometimes it’s difficult to stay strong. This is table tennis—it’s a technical game, but in the end, it becomes a mind game. You’re playing against yourself.”
With her focus still sharp despite the whirlwind moment, MONFARDINI is already looking ahead, albeit cautiously, to her next match against SHIN Yubin:
“I’m not going to think too much. It doesn’t matter if I’m behind or in front—I’m just going point by point.”
