Sofia Polcanova vs Mima Ito _ WS R16 _ #WTTFrankfurt 2025

He's one of the quickest players in the game. For example, even the pushes. There it is, finds the line with the wide wingspan here. So my question to you, Fraser, just because they hit a little flatter than usual, still a lot of feeling. Oh, recovery that was fortunate, comes down on the edge. Sofia with a bit of a break here. Fast, but after that it's been all Nina Ito. And just to elaborate on that, in their last... Kill shot with the forehand, follows it quickly, had to move right away. One point ball game. Testing the wingspan, it's what you called for. Game point now, Ito. Handcuffing and the kill shot. Sting pong out here, right into the thigh. That one is going to leave a welt, a little kiss mark on the thigh. Against Sabina Winter last week. Kill shot inside the baseline. The feet... She chose Sofia Polkanova. Of anybody she could have chosen, she chose the Austrian. Good reason. Quite a statement. I will say that having talked to players after tough losses, pain is part of life, especially in professional sport. Great receive from the second seed. Not one to lie down on the job, leads by two with no timeouts left. Change in tactic, pushes short game. Long serve punish, patiently Polkanova. Four game points. Oh, seven. Strategically, I thought this was the right thing to do. There it is. Half long, pays off. 11 to 8, a big escape here to get momentum, belief. And put more pressure on her opponent. Oh, get me a radar for that. I want a speed gun for that shot. We got the serve you called for, the reverse pendulum. And Mima gets studied very, very carefully and silenced. Footwork and feeling, but the ball popped up a little. Focusing on what, when and where. Saves it, defense. She's won two on her opponent's serve to get the serves back. No. It's tough. She hangs in there for a while, but the last one just slightly inside the baseline. And Mima... Champion of Montpellier. Yeah. In the past anyway. Yeah, in recent history here at this event. She was just dangling him there for a bit. That's always tough. Anything that sits up. It's interesting to think about. I don't know the last time you recall someone lobbying to Mima Ito. There it is, modified tomahawk. And it's Mima. 11 to 5. It was tight in the middle. But in the end, the business end. She was all business. Mima. What may be obvious looking at Mima Ito's serve. But it's important to note. Is that Ito has a very, very risky game. Now. Oh, beautiful counter. The anticipation. Mima started to move. Right now, those are those red short pips on the backhand. Great play. Wonderful receive. She actually used the side spin on that Ito's serve to her own advantage. If it's anything longer. The punishment. Poltanova read it well. Unbelievable. The balance. The way she positions herself in this game. If she gets through the first are Sofia's. Perfect receive. Mima takes it away. One game dropped. It's been a long time. And while Sofia Poltanova has played some wonderful table tennis. The world ranked number 31 falls once again at the hands of the second seed. Mima Ito is on to the quarterfinals. And will play Han Ying. That is a tough welcome back for Han Ying. When you think about Han Ying.