Liang the Full-Set Man Returns, But Shares Zhu Yuling's Same Problem
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The long-awaited Liang-the-full-set returned, and with the same script. Only this time the ending was a bit unsatisfying. In the men’s singles round of 16 at the Chongqing Champions, Liang Jingkun led 2-0 and was pulled back three straight by Dang Qiu — living up to his “always goes the full set” nickname, but losing 2-3 in the end.
Liang Jingkun: Liang Jingkun ADC custom, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane Dang Qiu: Viscaria custom, D09c on both sides
At first Dang Qiu still could not adapt to Liang Jingkun’s spin, especially off the backhand. Even at the middle position, the big fatty sometimes deliberately added spin with the forehand. Gradually, Dang Qiu found that only by piercing the big fatty’s forehand could he score. But it was not easy — many backhand down-the-line returns went into errors.
By the end, I understood. Dang Qiu surely did a lot of preparation for this match, and his idea was actually very clear: attack the big fatty’s wide forehand, hit more backhand down-the-line into his forehand. Because the big fatty’s backhand added-spin is fierce and especially durable, while at the forehand his movement is at least not so quick and active.
At first Dang Qiu had not broken through, with many of his own errors. Later he improved two things and got through. One was returning short to the big fatty’s forehand, which he does not flick much; after repeated short returns, the chance comes. The other was that when his own transition speed rose, the big fatty’s return quality (especially spin) dropped.
When playing amateur experts of equal or slightly higher level, I sometimes feel something similar. If I really cannot beat them, I speed up everything from the serve to every stroke (push, chop-long, drive) as much as possible, so the opponent’s errors rise and his returns are not so sharp. Next time you cannot win, try speeding up — see if it helps.
Dang Qiu pulled back two games. In the decider, at 1-1, Dang Qiu suddenly smiled. An involuntary smile — not because something funny happened, nor because his teeth are white and he is shooting a toothpaste ad. He just naturally smiled mid-play. It meant he felt himself hitting his stride. And so it was: he played better than usual, especially the backhand drive down-the-line into the big fatty’s forehand, which was efficient, sharp and very accurate afterward.
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Women’s singles round of 16: Zhu Yuling lost 1-3 to Shin Yubin. Over the past half year Shin Yubin has improved fast, gaining rally ability close to top-tier players. She still lacks a little guile and ruthlessness, but her tactical thinking has cleared up.
Zhu Yuling: Innerforce Layer ZLC custom, T05 Hard, D09c Shin Yubin: S968 (Shin Yubin’s signature rose-red handle), NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane
Though Korea released a Hurricane Shin Yubin, that is just a kind of Hurricane Sa, an ordinary market version. Shin herself uses a custom 968.
Early on, Shin Yubin mostly played to Zhu Yuling’s backhand. But Zhu’s backhand is so good — clear changes of direction, thick in the rally. Later Shin turned the tables and started targeting Zhu’s middle and forehand, switching between those two spots and trying not to touch the backhand. That is when she broke through. For seasoned players like Liang Jingkun and Zhu Yuling — thick in the rally, with a backhand that can be steady or explosive and high quality — often, backhand down-the-line into their wide forehand is the thing that changes the match.