Ma Long vs Xu Xin | 2019 ITTF Qatar Open Highlights (1/2)

Walker, it should be a thrill best of seven along the start. Quite peculiar, really. Oh, no, Sloan is here. 70% divisive, very effective. Great one. This game and on both wings. Shusheen less consistent with the backhand. And started to get dominated a bit because of the backhand and that he favors the forehand so much. Versus Fong Jindong. Dusseldorf 2017 World Championships final. That's true. Depending on the quality and who the opponent is. Ma Long allowed the first attack. Obviously when he could find it. In addition to the knee support. Short side of finishes. Except for on the full forehand stroke. Last two days that Ma Long has definitely shown up. Nine. He was down by quite a bit. I remember six, nine anyway. Oh, the backhand goes long. Ma Long do the same out here to Shusheen. Short side of the table. Oh, out of reach. Sneaks it off the side. Hit a third ball for Ma Long. Heavy spin again from Shusheen. Fourth towel. And that takes a lot of focus and determination. Ball clips the edge. Popped up. Oh, does not come down. But game one goes. Rallies with Shusheen off the table. Using the forehand. This one sits. With either side of the racket, but more commonly the black side, forehand side. 15 feet away and walking slowly. Short side, Ma Long with a clear. Playing in slow motion. Later, send a text. Fan. Who doesn't want to see more of Ma Long. Not allowing Shusheen mid-distance rallies quite as much. Elbow to come out like that. You know, it's uncomfortable. 11 to 6. Determine the result in game number two. That's his real estate. Power. Oh, back end of the table. Respect. But he's one of eight. Chinese men. Ma Long still coming down from the flick. Oh, chop their player. Oh, Shusheen for that. Conversation behind Shusheen for a moment. His responsibility. Meaning that if Shusheen had lost the. There's the forehand. Oh, leaves open the whole tape side. Shusheen under the table is able to spin it up. Has to come across the body for this. Ma Long plays the risky ball. Seemed reasonable from that height. Just trying to keep. We just don't know who's going to win. It could go either way. Shusheen goes for broke to the short side and finishes the game 11 to 8. Spectacular finish. Where you expected it based on the angle. You held the racket at. Quite dry out here. Surprise, surprise. Troll because what you know so well isn't happening with the consistency that you've practiced it. Shusheen just. Game whether it means serving from the backhand. We heard him vocalize a little bit earlier today. The threat though from far and away. In near the table as well. Catching myself on both wings. So mixing it up still in the lead by one. The count serves on his side. If he can get through the first point. Fast long serving. Serve comes long in the back. Oh, off the top of the net. 4-0 June Mizutani. Good to play a passive receive. Behind the back attempted. Where's Daniel Habeson? At the same time as him turning the corner. To see how it's going to finish. Was just talking about the footwork of Shusheen and he runs everything down. Big counter. Not a lot of topspin on that last ball. More sidespin from Ma Long. So it's tough to carry back on the counter. But Shusheen keeps this alive for so long. The very white at the top of the net. That ball could have crawled over. Wow. Beauty's changed as he's aged is that he's been more clear in his plan from the start of the point. Within one point on the receive now. 1-5 down back to 5-6. Chop block right back. A shot deep to the forehand. If you want to be on top of the table without moving back. Make it especially threatening because it's always different. Really tough to know how closed your racket should be watching the ball come in. This 4. Can he take game number 5? The Dictator can take what he wants. 3-2. Shusheen now with the serves on his side to start off game 6. Softer and spinny to change the rhythm a little bit behind. Yet, and I think confidence is a big part of that. That's what made him so successful in 2015. To go with the last minute he can change. Good play 2020. Match that I've seen from the top players. Soft touch. In near the net. Maybe a bit confusing and challenging on the long side. Step around on the backhand corner. No, Shusheen! Can't shows up late to the party. Fashionably late, but it wins the point. Didn't even know it had RSVP'd. Look at this. Ripping backhand. Confidence when you need it. That's devastating. Give me those pendulum combinations. Heavy underspin for the first. But Shusheen has so much feeling. There are no guarantees. Heavy rotation. Can he convert? And he does. Ma Long, the Dictator, back in action. Gets his fire. Once again, his racket will be checked as procedure goes.