LIN SHIDONG vs XIANG PENG - CHINA SMASH 2024

Lin Shidong looking to pull off three back-to-back WTT events, winning everything he's played. Lin Shidong, who doesn't seem to pivot as often. It's his ability there. That's the Hongpeng we want to step around, so we played it extra wide. Yeah, what to do? Aren't we all? Yeah. Beautiful. Like I said, Adam, the best run of his career so far. The push, there's the heavy spin. Pancakes match. It's clever. First, Hongpeng with the serves. I wonder if the player stopped and said, hang on, can we just stay out of it generally? Jacked, isn't it? Comes down, a crushing shot, but he's still in it. Oh, look at this. The backhand counter, moving back in. What? Oh, Jack. Lin Shidong with the backhand way behind the table. Wow, I mean, Xiangpeng shouldn't really have to have been worried about defensive ability and turning it into attack. Yeah, he really developed himself over time. And back on this. Thank you very much. Just another day. Positioning on the counter. We're tested. In some situations, it's actually useful to have it. Maybe that would have been one of them. They're still together. Heavy. Similar elbows. The chest and torso, I've noticed. Bridge, I'd say. Yeah, seems reasonable. Power. Completely agree. You've got to really, I think, be quite relaxed in the hand to be able to. Look here. To get out of the way. It was a nice parallel forehand from Xiangpeng. Especially against his backhand. Maybe that's why. The blush, Liu Hong and Wong Hao, the happiest man I've seen this rally. With the serve. Here's Xiangpeng. Oh, just slips. Looks like they're so happy. That is Xiangpeng we were talking about. Didn't have to touch the ball to win the point. Different this. Sui Qinglei. Big backhand. That step around, that would have hit him. And it's the same game indeed. And that was one of the best in-between for big upsets on the major stage. In the team by non-Chinese players. At least quality of points is what we're seeing. Yeah. You can see right here the arc on every single ball. All right. There doesn't seem to be that much imbalance. Especially consistently. But also explosively from time to time. Unlikely to bounce between towel breaks. The backhand seemed to come off the edge of the... Mouth water in table tennis. I guess it won that last game. Well, the obvious answer is... This would mean probably even more to him if he can win this. Little sport. More pop. Here, check this out. Yoink. Still in there. And it's not fishing. It's counters. Look at the chase. The leaping here. How many steps... Don't fall. And it's fantastic. And it's working for him. Now he's gonna get given the opportunity. There it is. That sets up some game points here. Look at the convert. Oh! Good misdirection here. I guess... And... To lead the effort put into that first backhand. And then changes the... But even... He's a shot. Being able to play your game. Swept the right leg back. Play, please. The arena or something. It's a bit of a stir. Might do it. Oh, he's doing it from forehand. Here, keep your eyes on Xiang Peng's feet. Continued on. Good angle. And eventually it worked out his way. Xiang Peng back in front. Counter. Very, very spinny. Xiang Peng on receive. The long... To the fans all the way up to the back. That's... Oh! Don't look in this rally. Yeah, beautiful technique here. Up in that last game. And lost four in a row. Earns it with that short stroke backhand. Both lines being... Both. Yisha Lien namely. A handful of others. Recently retired Timo Boll saw that change. Don't. I guess that... Yeah. Left. Very, but it's proactive at the same time. Taking advantage of a little break here in Lin Shidong. What, three in a row now? The whip on that backhand. Peng takes it. The shield comes up to protect against that first bullet that was delivered by Lin Shidong. You felt that first one. Xiang Peng using that. It's amazing. Back down by two. Video now. When you're warm... Me neither. See you in 30 minutes. At least that specific fan. Holds his banner high. Eyes off the ball. Points for Xiang Peng. Heavy spin down. Peng to start. Momentum on his side. Left. As well as the length. And delivery. Again. Start from Lin Shidong. Push half long to the backhand side. Just long. So tough to tell what's on it. Beautiful angle as well. Now. With the spins on these shots. So good to see. This is the future. But I talked to him the day after. He's in good spirits. Lin Shidong would be waiting for the whip. Lin Shidong does it. He takes down... We're in for a rollercoaster ride. No doubt about it. We've got our first finalist. In whatever the country. On both sides of the racket. A whole lot of confidence.