FULL MATCH | Wen Ruibo vs Hugo Calderano | MS R32 | #EuropeSmash 2025

So here we go, the thrill from Brazil back under the bright lights to start this best of five. There's the power, two shots in a row. He's a cannon. And when he's got the confidence, he's tough to stop. Yeah. Dismissive power there from Hugo Calderano. That net call that one got gave him a little bit more time, but good proactive play from the Brazilian. Well, there's going to be some fight from the start here. One Ray Bull is quite aware of who stands across from him, a player who's been, let's say, one of the few great threats to Team China with a fresh haircut and a fresh stare down there. And the net comes back this time to help out. So second time around, but a little bit more favoring for one Ray Bull. Well, that's a massive confidence booster. Early doors from him there to beat Hugo Calderano in that trade. He has some real quick speed on top of the bounce to counter and the parallel forehand. Hugo with that flexible wrist, tough to predict. But between power and finesse, he's got a lot on the menu. One incredible shot. That wasn't even a long touch or a long push there from one. But he swept in off the half long, came across the ball to the skies. Where it was going, it went right into the body. Two, three, just so much pressure on the Chinese starter to make quality touches. Otherwise, it's going to be instant punishment now more often than not. This is a conversation you can have with any of the players around the world that against a Chinese player, even if they're the lower ranked, you know, you can't count this player out. Three or I mean, think about where Chun-Yi was before Las Vegas. I mean, 19 in the world, still top 20. But there were some massive results. Two major events in a row took down world number two and world number one. Just a question of time. Sometimes you have to wonder in terms of preparation, how much preparation specifically to one Ray Bull's game could have been done. Soft touch there to drag in one inside the forehand part of the table behind the net. Calderano bites the bait, attacks the attackable serve, but when Raybo reads it so well to go down the line to the open space. Great reach. I guess bait in the sense that it's a step around for a serve that long. If you don't attack, good luck getting into the rally. And it almost comes down. We've seen two confident wings, one Ray Bull and no problem behind the table. Forehand nor backhand, one fishing shot. But then he turns quickly to counterattack. Incredible balance from both players there and Calderano playing a seatbelt shot there on the step around. If it would have landed that net card, what he'd done for an around the net. Wouldn't be surprised. It is Calderano. Oh, the short side here, the parallel back and a key ingredient to his 2018 win over Fang Zhendong, one of two times he would beat him. I had the grand finals. You brought back a great memory there, Adam. Indeed. Clever play, the touch shot, leaving it up on the table. One Ray Bull doing the opposite. What would have been done by others? Xiang Peng was watching a lot of players still watching here. Minko, manager of the team, alongside some of the rest of the Chinese delegation. Placement into the middle in this rally to stop the feet of Ugo mid rally. Absolutely love these rallies here. Drive to drive. Fantastic technique from one Ray Bull. Any levels here? Point split at the second tower break. Liu Jichang on the bench for one Ray Bull. Been working with the Chinese team for some time now. Extra spin. A little bit more time as this one arcs and comes down at the baseline again. Invested in spin. Wow. Yang Jingkun beaten by Adrian Rassifos. Three to zero. One of the most stable players for Team China in recent years. Yeah, 100 percent. And you know, the man that Calderano beat in the World Championship semifinal in Doha. What a shot there from Calderano across the body again. Takes such skill to do that. He's done wonderfully with the long serves, varying them to deep backhand and a little bit more towards the elbow, but they've all been baseline and tough to step around with quality. And tough to tell it's going there because it's a similar service toss to his short to half long serve. No giveaway. Yeah, I think that's the key ingredient. Part of the reason that Ugo was preparing for the Chiquita receive and then had to quickly backpedal. Nine. Deception on the serve, tight inside, and he gets himself a one point lead, the second seed. And Raybo missing that backhand flick again, but it's a great serve from Calderano. Big point to set up two game points here. What do you think in praising? It feels like an escape, but we know how good Calderano is away from the table, fishing the ball. One Raybo didn't have too much time on his hands, but he'll be disappointed to have missed that. The quality of rally that we've seen the back and forth on the scoreboard here, we know that one Raybo is not to be taken lightly. Ugo knows this well. Nine backhand for a third ball to save a game point. He's a tall figure and he's definitely got the racket speed again, the confidence. He turns back that racket so far. One more game point to go for the thrill from Brazil. Oh, and a dangler drifts barely off the table. One Raybo just on the slightly longer side of half long here's fans watch on. You and I have had a chance to play on this table with these new recycle balls, which getting wonderful reviews. Yeah. So we know that the ball definitely stops on the table when there's backspin deuce alternating serves. Trying to keep it baseline, but it's one Raybo with the pressure who sets up a game point of his own three in a row from down 810 for the 18 year old world ranked number 35. His match management in the last few points have been excellent. Lovely forehand parallel there down the line with some additional rotation. There it is. The completion, the behind the back shot. His back was against the ropes. How did he have time to fit his racket between the ropes and his back on this? What a save. You talk about pressure. You think it's just swag for when you're ahead? This is just practicality. Ugo Calderano says, No, I don't have time to put my racket in front of my body. I'm going behind the back and it saves game point under pressure. Wow. Very smart play. One Raybo not allowing Ugo Calderano to come back into the table, constantly testing him, spinning and moving and not letting Calderano get under his skin with that audacious shot in the rally before to save the game point. He's hard to shake this young man. Yeah, definitely could have caused some brain scars on the other side for many a player. Second game point here for one Raybo. And he takes it 1311 from down 810, not bothered by the behind the back. Love one. What do you expect to see change wise from Ugo? I expect to see a bit more flair in his attacking game overall. And I think that the biggest change we'll see will be with this receive. It's going to be a little bit more aggressive early on. Calderano, I'd be surprised to see as many long rallies. When you say flair, what specific type of flair do you imagine? Not necessarily the audacious behind the back shots or hook shots, but I'm talking about deception coming in, potentially with an open racket face, changing it at the last split second to go along when he looks like he might touch those kind of things, the most subtle deceptive shots. Slow spin here, bringing some variety so far so good. I think Calderano's receive game is really, really improved. I think that's been one of the most noticeable changes because he seems to have been always good in the rally. Right on top of the table, stood up there at the baseline, but the quality behind the shot to finish. It's a very quick serve from Calderano. Just thinking about how about how much leg strength and core strength it takes to hold your balance in that moment. Should you need to recover for another shot? Smart play gets him to cross his feet in the middle and then sends it way out to the forehand. One's been quite clever in the short stroke rallies. Look at him. He barely follows through at all. Yeah, yeah. Good composure. Good point. Construction. Nice shallow flick. Like you said, an abbreviated stroke is testing those transitions really well. Calderano tried something different there with the push. Tried to open his stance to deceive one, but one was right on it. A little bit more spin on this. We have seen that variety from Ugo Calderano. I think in general against top Chinese opponents, trying to outspeed is rarely the answer. Variety, rhythm breaking. These tend to be more successful. One hundred percent. I completely agree with you. But I feel like that said, Calderano is one of the very, very few select players that can outpower the Chinese in a sense. Yeah. Power. It's funny the differentiation between power and speed. I feel like Ugo Calderano is arguably the most powerful player in the world. Yeah. On both wings. But speed, something we might apply to Kanak Jha, Koki Niwa. Players that recover quickly. That seem to always be in position. They don't overextend too often. And one Ray Bull has fallen into that category so far. Good length on this one. The hands, the in and out game again, different depths on the table to cause challenge for the opponent. It might sound counterintuitive. You might think the lower to the net, the better in general, but sometimes a little bit of height's just enough to give the opponent hope to give them bait to go for the attack. And then they realize, oh, man, couldn't do that. I feel like we sometimes see that in the serve game as well. For example, a heavy backspin serve with enough bounce to make them think it's flickable. Exactly. Backhand here, Ugo Calderano, steady, still uncomfortably close in terms of the scoreboard here, despite their difference in world rankings. 5-7. It's a light sound backhand from Calderano, and we heard a few umms and ahs from the crowd. It's a nice run of points, and that's three in a row from the Brazilian. They're very free, just seems so loose. So we get so much whip and racket speed on that. 5-8. I'm just thinking to myself about the careers of table tennis players and for Team China, the amount of effort, energy, sacrifice, devotion that goes into even trying to accomplish your dreams. Is crazy. 9-5. That said, while Brazil is sort of the China of the Americas, I will say that overwhelmingly it's a sport dominated by Asia. So a real outlier here, Ugo Calderano, who's won six of the last eight points, looking to get his first game on the scoreboard just two points away. There it is, moves in, blitzes the table, plays the parallel, and after a serve that he had been given to him many times deep to the backhand, he gives it right back this time around. Yeah, what he's done as a Brazilian is unprecedented. Nothing can take it away from him. He's already cemented himself as a legend in the sport, but he wants more Calderano. Oh, deja vu. Two in a row, an 11-5. Here's game three. Quick start to game three with one ray ball on the receive. It's funny, we still have a lot to learn about one ray ball, and I think this is a big big test here to be facing Ugo Calderano as one of your first main stage appearances. Kuro, and I think that the Chinese coaches will be very happy with the way that he's showcased his skills. And he seems to be rising to the occasion. He's not letting it get to him. This is a real catalyst, isn't it? Probably the catalyst, because Ugo Calderano right now is the best non-Chinese player. Simple as that. Well, world rankings might have one in front of him at the moment. Results? Well, it's interesting. Him and Tomo have been in wonderful form. I'm still curious. It's just been so many points that one ray ball has served long to the backhand. And Ugo Calderano stepped around. I don't have the exact percentages, but it feels like it's worked out in one way. But one ray ball is favor more. My goodness, Adam. This is just full of all sorts of nope. How on earth do you return two of these spank shots? Ugo Calderano hit two of these as flat as can be. And they weren't just returned. They were countered back. Footwork, feeling, movement, adjustment to spin and lack thereof. This is very mature, impressive play from one. Saw some nasty power from Calderano, but his retrieval there, incredible. Even getting past the flat slaps. He recovered a net card early does there as well. The spin here on the pendulum serve as Ugo Calderano simply ties it up with that. You won't always hear me talking about the player who was beaten in the point, but it's I think watching that it was just unbelievable that he kept himself in the point, made the work that hard for Ugo. Yeah. And such a powerhouse. Incredible. The two handed backhand even came back into the table. The mental maturity side spin there with the top spin a drop. This is never easy, especially with the springy side of the blade. And then he plays it just out of reach while he's got Ugo in and guessing. Man, that is good play. Yeah, we saw the double under backhand. Beautiful timing with his counters. When we're boys playing with some beautiful fluidity, we saw it backhand drop shot. That's rare, but he's so confident on both wins, isn't he? For showing that you've got the touch and the power. I don't have to think back too far as the Brazilian fans with the future so bright for Ugo, they've got to wear shades inside. It's an updated lyric for all. I'll finish the point about not having to think back too far in a minute before it's too far to think back, because these points, the quality is just so strong. When Fang Zhendong was 16 years old, he was starting to beat a lot of the world's best players. It was a question of if he'd be able to adjust, play the touch game. Ugo Calderon has won 12 of the last 16 points, but it hasn't been easy because one Ray Bull has been so good in the touch game as well. Opening up the rallies quickly, nonetheless, comfortable inside the table. Quick to tie it up. It's interesting in the last game how we didn't see many long rallies, but in this one we're seeing some longer trades. They're both growing used to each other a little bit here in their first ever meeting. Of course, by that, I mean the players contact the ball slightly differently because the technique and the fundamentals similar at this level, the timing point, the physicality, the way it transfer, but sometimes it takes a lot of getting used to a player like Calderon on one way, but he's doing incredibly well. As the underdog. Big boy, he escapes here. This is when you have an idea and you know it's risky, but it's worth a try. Tries to drop it short to the forehand, does so a little bit higher, maybe than he would have hoped. And therefore, that forehand flick felt like a bit of an escape. Nice long push. Surprise, surprise. It looked like he was going to dink it, drop it behind the net. Vitor Ishii was impressed with that. He's managed to shut down Ray Bull's ability to consistently backhand flick and open up with the backhand, too, with his backhand inside the table. Calderon, subtle changes. Again, not much giveaway. Slow spin, a little bit more shallow there, forcing one Ray Bull to reach out in front and try to keep the racket closed. Good, good intention from the young player that tried to counter it off the angle. 6-8, be ready. Now, this is the first time he's had an answer in a long time to this. He stepped around and found a way to make it work. Yeah, because like in the first game, when Calderon was playing that, one was playing it down the line with the backhand. But I think it was a slightly spinnier ball from Calderon and a little bit slower. 9-7. That's right, that's right. From the bench, Liu Zhichang encouraging, reminding one Ray Bull that he's got this. Still a ways to go, though, two point lead for the second seed. The player who won last game 11-5 in a different score line here. Ooh, clever. Gets Ugo to play the backhand from in front of the elbow and forehand side as Wang Hao, Xiang Peng and the rest of the gang watch on Ugo Calderon's timeout. He's back with a serve. 8-10. Now we have this score line in game number one. Two game points, Ugo Calderon and one Ray Bull. We'll then move on to win five of the next six points to take the game. 9-10. He saves another game point. A fair share of, well, nerves of steel, I'd say, out here for a young guy. There's often a fearlessness and aggression, but against pressure to handle this. Let's see. Second game point, Ugo. Oh, that shot was so good. How did he get so much topspin? It was somewhere between a flick and a full hand and full forehand stroke. It seemed impossible. Incredible. And Calderon will be getting a deja vu back to game one. Deuce. And it is game point. Deja vu, indeed, three in a row. The prophecy has been fulfilled, but game three is not over yet. He should play a ticking time bomb with two powerful players. We've seen them in their power open rallies, both touching it just right enough to keep the other off the attack. And Ugo finds the opening there barely. Eleven all. That to save a game point. So far, the same scoring pattern since game one or as game one, I should say, since 8-10. But this time it's different. He has broken. This is not a simulation, or if it is, it's a different pattern in a simulation right now. Beautiful backhand flick from Calderon. Third game point for Ugo Calderon here. He's already used his time out. Oh, wow. Gives the opening in the rally. One Ray Bullitt down. One, two. Oh, the flat hit just long. Not afraid to take a chance. You would have had a lot of fun commentating the Diaz-Lindt mixed doubles match earlier on, Adam. Saw some ridiculous shots there, mate. Love to. Anything else you want to make me feel jealous about or? That's it for now. OK, thanks. Just let me know. No, it's all good. Adriana Diaz and Anders always incredible to watch. And as a pair, really exciting. That said, one Ray Bullitt off to a good start here, converting both of his serves for the first two points behind the table, the arc. Now, from time to time, it'll be tougher. We saw this a lot with Gozi and Kanak Jha when they battled Simone, of course, that behind the table, the arc and the variation in the arc makes it a little bit tougher, bringing the player in and out on the block, forcing them to lean forward, get over the top. He's been wonderful down that line. Yeah, he really has, hasn't he? Calderon was clueless as to what he was going to do there because we know the players at the last second can play a Chiquita or even drop short with a backhand touch there. He was crystal clear and it went right past him. For again, Calderon going for quite a powerful ball to say that he was far back. Good recovery off the net. One Ray Bull and the patterns he moves so quickly. Again, already stepped around that corner for the ball coming back. You can feel Ugo moving back into the table and one Ray Bull stopping him in his tracks by playing it to the backhand and into the elbow. So one middle, a little shallow. Now, when he moves in, he goes to the deep backhand corner and it gets a compromised shot. Ugo still with that side swipe. You'd think it'd bother the opponent more. Very little top spin, a whole lot of side spin, and still he plays it like it was nothing unusual. Wow, this is sick. But you can understand it when we've seen how many times one Ray Bull has been able to return the ball with interest. One save, Ugo with a flatter shot to the middle. Thought he had it. Thought he didn't need the top spin. Many times that is the case. This time it was not maybe a little bit of scar power from one Ray Bull's retrieval ability earlier on in the match. You never know. I mean, like you touched upon, Adam, one Ray Bull is not panicked, not panicked in these longer rallies, no matter what Cordova has done. That said, he did win the rally eventually. But yeah, just a good reminder that he's dangerous from far behind the table, not easy to hit through top edge of the racket after a lot of movement. It's one Ray Bull in control in the rally once again. Calderano playing a backhand from the forehand side. Good improvisation from Calderano. He thought it might have gone into his crossover. But when Ray Bull focusing on what he can control here to the variation in the spin game, not necessarily the most powerful shot, but a bit more spin on it. Soft hands in the touch game, a long way to go from down to eight, but still a chance. Ugo Calderano would like to avoid a game five. One Ray Bull, the exact opposite would love game five. Oh, man. Dismissive backhand untouched for a player who's been so quick in the counter and returned so many shots. It just speaks volumes to the quality necessary to play a shot like that. Nine four and a clever shot from one Ray Bull to play a long, fast push with a little bit more conviction than in the previous point. When you see one Ray Bull shirt, what player do you think of? And I see the shirt. Yeah. Five. Nine. I think of one Ray Bull. Oh, fascinating. I think of Kwai Man. Oh, yeah. Yeah. She wears that one a fair bit, to be fair, doesn't she? Yeah. But I'm happy he's already made an impression on you. He has two points away from taking this game. One Ray Bull. And now just the one he sets up five game points. Hugo Calderano has been tested many times. You mentioned Liang Jingkun earlier as we saw him watching in the crowd. You can imagine he'll be studying every chance he gets. One of the most dramatic matches in recent history. Mentally exhausting for all. Red. Five, ten. Very little spin on that flick. He guides it forward from straight behind the ball, and there's not top spin to work with for one Ray Bull. This is not over yet. We've seen Calderano make some incredible comebacks this year. Most notably, he won the game from ten three down against Mizuki Okawa in the final of the WTT contender Buenos Aires. Oh, then floats it up from under the table and a time out now. One Ray Bull. This can be a little bit scarring. Look here under spin. Can't see exactly what's on it in a row here. Game point saved by Hugo Calderano. And he continues. I remember ten five. Is that the most? I think it was. Yeah. Five nine became five ten. Here we go. Calderano with six of the last eight points now. A bit of momentum on his side looking to do what's been done to him. He's been up ten eight twice and had it recovered. That said, he still leads two to one in games. Not a big backhand. Calderano. Goodness me. I'm just thinking about the fact that we have TTR here. It's always interesting to see. One of the first people I ever saw called for a serve falling behind the head before there was TTR was Hugo Calderano against Kenta Matsudaira to check open. Oh, what a backhand. It's not over yet, but that's five straight points. Is it time, Calderano? Oh, look at this. Right back to where it came from. The pivot denied. Must win by two deuce in game four. On top of the table, he blitzes and captures. We talked about mental toughness. He's had massive comebacks. Oikawa knows this well. He's been on the other side of it with trules game one. It's match point. Hugo Calderano. And he's one in a Brazilian. Hugo Calderano from 5'10 down has come back to take down a player with a very bright future. One ray.