China’s Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha expected to progress at WTT Champions Macau
But world champion Wang is advised to ‘have his mindset ready’ for Matsushima in his opening match
China’s Wang Chuqin has been tipped to make straightforward progress at this week’s World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions event in Macau, but was warned to be focused for his opening match against Sora Matsushima on Tuesday.
World champion and world No 2 Wang, who opted out of the WTT Europe Smash last month after winning the US Smash in Las Vegas in July, will take on Japan’s Matsushima, ranked 22nd, in the late match on the opening day.
He is one of two Chinese players in the bottom half of the draw, the other being Xue Fei, who has replaced Dimitrij Ovtcharov. The German was forced to drop out when his flight was unable to depart on time because of the proximity to Macau of Severe Tropical Storm Tapah.
Former men’s team world champion Liu Guozheng said that Wang, a two-time winner in Macau, should have “no problem” making progress, with compatriots Lin Shidong, Xiang Peng, Chen Yuanyu and Huang Youzheng all on the other side of the draw.
“The characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of all 31 players are deeply imprinted in his brain,” Liu said. “He just needs to be prepared and have his mindset ready for Matsushima, because it’s the first match, after all.”