This dude is so annoying. It’s not paddle ball or basketball, stop bouncing your little ball every time 🙄 And he’s leaned in so focused like he’s threading a needle each time. So cringe.
He was ranked 40th in the World at the time of this match and she wiped him out. Top female players are much closer to top male players than people realise. At her peak Zhang was probably in the top 10 combined overall, maybe even 5.
Zhang Yining is like a magician on the table. Anything Lucjan had in his arsenal were utterly useless when used at her...she hit everything right back! Her backhand is especially impenetrable. Amazing!
@KaxMisha lei didnt have much energy for this match, nor enthusiasm... i think he felt uncomfortable facing a legendary chinese player and a female. that being said, i think zhang yining at her best can be very competitive with the vast majority of male players!
@cigarbong i mean, i didn't say that it isn't difficult to outsmart a man, but... yeah, why is my statement ridiculous? and why aren't people arguing against it? is it because i'm ignorant? because i don't like being ignorant. i prefer to understand. yeah, explain your point to me again. i am totally lost.
@cigarbong well, i mean, Waldner didn't use too much strength. he was focused on outsmarting his opponents. why is it unconceivable for a woman to come along and think like waldner?
@bigduven true. Females may not have the muscle mass of men, but they do have a brain. With good technique, a female merely has to outsmart a man to beat him.
i m not sure about the first two games, but i pretty sure Lucian did try to win the 5th game. he underestimated her. after all, Zhang is the best in woman tt.
well it happened, you can look it up, though some other person said his friend went to the tournament, and Lei Zhenhua was just playing around and let Zhang win, so that probably explains it. But lets be honest, regardless of whether you are Chinese or not, most male players wil think it is embarassing to lose to a girl....
no. they only did that for the 2009 holiday exhibition. this was the open singles from 2008, not the spinvitational but an actual, usatt rated event for prize money. format was best of 5.