On August 25th Beijing time, the WTT Sweden Grand Slam men's singles final saw China's top-ranked Lin Shidong face off against host player Moregard. Lin did not play well and after a grueling seven sets, fell 3-4 to Moregard in an unexpected upset, missing out on the title and astonishing spectators. Lin’s continuous defeats in finals against international opponents indicate his potential is capped, making him unlikely to be the team’s mainstay. Indeed, Fan Zhendong is deeply missed!
Lin Shidong had a breakout year last season, winning numerous titles and reaching world No.1, but this season he has somewhat plateaued. His performance against foreign opponents has been very inconsistent, losing to Hugo Calderano and Tomokazu Harimoto. In this Grand Slam, Lin, as China’s sole contender competing on three fronts, made it to the men’s singles final. His opponent was the home star Moregard, an Olympic silver medalist who previously caused an upset by eliminating Wang Chuqin. Moregard is undoubtedly very strong. Playing on home soil gave him a significant advantage, making Lin’s quest for the championship quite challenging!
In the semifinals, Lin faced a tough test. Trailing 1-3, he mounted a spectacular comeback by winning three consecutive games to clinch a 4-3 victory over Simon, advancing to the final in a hard-fought battle. Meanwhile, Moregard was in blazing form, sweeping Duda 4-0 to reach the final!
The match began with both players evenly matched in the first two games, but Moregard’s aggressive play earned him the first game 11-8. Lin quickly answered back with an 11-8 win to level the score. In the third game, the two battled strategically until Moregard took a 12-10 win on key points. Riding the momentum, Moregard extended his lead by taking the fourth game 11-8, leading 3-1 overall. Facing elimination, Lin ramped up his offense, dominating the fifth game 11-4. The sixth game was a fierce back-and-forth, with Lin narrowly edging it 13-11 to tie 3-3 and force a decider. The final game was full of twists and turns; Lin missed crucial chances and ultimately lost 9-11, falling 3-4 and suffering a shocking upset, losing the title!
From this match, Lin’s loss exposed his weaknesses clearly: a lack of passion and dominance, a tendency to retreat from the table. Although his ranking made him world No.1, he is not truly the best in the world. Currently, the Chinese men’s team faces growing challenges; earlier Wang Chuqin lost to Harimoto, and now Lin Shidong lost to Moregard. It can be said that the Chinese men’s team no longer holds a clear advantage. This gold medal is no longer guaranteed and serious reflection is needed!
Written by / Sports Fiction