World No.1 Wang Chuqin is out of the Men’s Singles at China Smash 2024 after suffering a surprising Round of 32 defeat to Anders LIND 3-1 (13-11 9-11 11-6 11-7). The top seed who had aimed to complete a sweep of this season’s WTT Grand Smash singles titles saw his impressive run come to an abrupt end.
Wang the reigning champion of both Singapore Smash and Saudi Smash entered the match with a 13-match singles winning streak at the WTT Grand Smash level. Many had expected him to extend that dominance but Lind fresh off his second WTT Feeder Series title in Panagyurishte came prepared to upset those expectations.
Facing the world’s top-ranked player Lind was unafraid from the very first serve bringing a bold and unconventional approach that unsettled Wang. This was the first meeting between the two since their quarterfinal clash at last year’s ITTF World Championships Finals where WANG had triumphed. However in this encounter LIND was a different player shaking up Shijingshan Shougang Park with his fearless outside-the-box tactics.
“Looking at the match I told my wife my coach and my friends that I felt I could beat him so I went into it pretty confident. In the first game I didn’t feel nervous but I knew if I wanted to have a chance of winning I had to take the first set. In the second set I felt the nervousness but I felt like I could handle it quite well ” said LIND.” Towards the end of the match I was so nervous I felt like throwing up. But the feeling afterward was just incomprehensible for a while. I felt like it was a dream and soon I’d be woken up by an annoying alarm clock and the match wouldn’t have even happened yet.”
LIND added:
“The atmosphere in the hall was electrifying playing in front of so many spectators. Even though they were mostly cheering against me it was still great. I love this sport so much and really wish we could play more in fully packed halls like this.”
The Chinese crowd nervously cheering for their local hero watched as WANG struggled to cope with LIND’S relentless and unpredictable strategy.
“Normally against most of the other top-ten players I just go with my normal game and I’ve been super close many times. Today my approach was completely different. I knew if I played backhand-backhand or spin-spin he would destroy me. So I just tried to make it very weird for him ” LIND said after the match. “I made a lot of strange backhand slices and serves with heavy spin to force unforced errors.”
The plan paid off. LIND’S unpredictable play combined with sharp backhand and forehand counters left Wang unable to establish a rhythm. Despite the home crowd’s support WANG couldn’t turn the match around as Lind capitalized on his momentum to secure a remarkable victory over the World No.1.
“It’s one of the best feelings. The happiness is unbelievable. It’s a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life and it gives me a lot of confidence going forward ” Lind said celebrating what felt like a dream victory.
Now Anders LIND will look to continue his fairytale run at China Smash. His next challenge will be a Round of 16 match against the rising talent KAO Cheng-Jui.
