(by Steve Hopkins, photos ITTF Americas)
A tale of two sides as the Final of the started in the ITTF World Cup Macao on Sunday. On one side, Hugo Calderano who at 6 feet tall towers over his shorter opponent by 6 inches. Calderano on successive days defeated Tomokazu Harimoto and Wang Chuqin – with that latter match including three in a row in an epic comeback on this same center court yesterday. No pressure – already accomplished everything that he expected – already one of the biggest stories of the tournament. On the other side of the table is Lin Shidong, World No. 1, with all eyes on him, with every expectation that he should win in Macao – a special administrative region of China (not exactly home court, but with a very friendly crowd).
The first two points may give some hint of what to expect in the match. Lin Shidong’s opening serve is across the middle, leading to a return down the middle, and he pounds the backhand winner overpowering his opponent with classic, safe technique. Then in the second point, we see Calderano break the pattern by diving to his right to hit a backhand from the forehand side of the table – and then used extra spin over the table to create a heavy crosscourt angle for his own winner wide of Shidong’s forehand. This is arguably how Calderano dealt with Chuqin yesterday – moving away from the table to counter Chuqin’s power, and finding angles to expand the distance that his opponent needed to cover. Calderano is playing early with lots of energy, but his overly aggressive shots include misses – and it is Shidong up 5-2 early. Lin Shidong coasted to win the first game 11-6.
As the camera panned between games, its a different scene than yesterday. Wang Chuqin had 13 uniformed people in his corner – lined up in yellow China track suits and visible behind the players. Today, the two corners are just the the two coaches talking to their players – and the Chinese delegation is to the side. Calderano missed a big backhand again early – and then wins a long rally with aggressive forehands. The next two points Calderano is right back to his big backhand swings – winning one and losing one. But its the forehand again that gives Calderano his first lead at 4-3 – a crosscourt heavy spin that leaves Shidong looking at his rubber. At 4-4, we see the first glimpse of what Calderano’s big forehand can bring – two backhand loops, one crosscourt that is returned, and one down the line that is an untouched winner. Backhand down the line (a little inside out) for another winner 7-6 Calderano. A misdirection inside out forehand down the line for a winner Shidong catches (8-6 Calderano). This game goes to Calderano 11-7.
The third game starts with careful placements with the two trading points. The down the line inside out backhand comes out again, up 3-2, but this time Shidong moves away from the table and returns the ball, creating a rally. Down 3-4, the same backhand down the line creates a winner. Tied 5-5 as the pace quickens – more and more rallies with heavy angles. Two sloppy points in a row and Calderano is up 7-5 (Shidong missed a service return, and then played his backhand opening shot into the net). Unfortunately for Calderano, he plays some sloppy shots of his own – missing a push, trying a sidespin chop-block that misses, and then losing two rallies (Shidong leads 9-7). Calderano plays two points aggressively to Shidong’s backand deep, and Shidong loses a pair of rallies (9-9). Calderano’s backahand comes through twice – a backhand winner late in a rally gives Calderano the 10-9 lead, and a backhand return of a Shidong attack gives Calderano a 2-1 lead in games.
We don’t see this much in watching Chinese players, but Shidong looks like the pressure is getting to him – and Calderano’s attacks seem to have Shidong off balance. There seems to be no answer for Calderano’s backhand today – his crosscourt power is better than Shidong backhand to backhand and Calderano’s backhand down the line is as effective as any other shot on the table. Calderano is winning the power battle – and then moving back to prolong rallies when Shidong tains the advantage. And as Shidong is guessing, Calderano is adding new angles – like the inside out forehand he played to Shidong’s backahand that went untouched. The final swing of the game, another inside out backhand downt the line – 11-4 domination to give Calderano the fourth game.
Shidong wins the first point of the fourth game – but loses the next three. The variation of those three points may tell the tale of the match – a backhand winner down the line (helped by the edge, but struck towards a wide-open table), then a forehand push return at a crazy angle wide right – beyond Shidong’s backhand causing an error, and then a massive backhand third ball winner crosscourt (and Shidong clearly couldn’t tell if that backhand swing was going to be down the line or crosscourt). Time out – Shidong. Coming out of the pause, the next two points go to Calderano. There are some shifts in energy, but Calderano seals the match. Up 8-4, then winning 11-5.
What an amazing run. Hugo Calderano has shocked the world – Going back to back with stunning upsets at the World Cup Macao. China not winning is a big deal. But no player from Asia or Europe winning – this is the first time. In the entire history of the Men’s World Cup, it has been won solely by Asian and European players. Hugo Calderano has created a whole list of “firsts” on his way to rewriting history.
Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results.
