I have played two events yesterday – under 2600 and under 2050. I knew I was not going to do well yesterday morning itself. I felt so stiff in my body. I could not move and my upper body was really hurting. I think I have not recovered from the Joola Super Camp completely – some of the strengthening exercise at the camp has really made my upper body muscles sore. Normally, the car drive make me stiff, but this time it did not – I drove 6 hours to reach Las Vegas on Tuesday.
I hated it more than anyone watched. It was an under 2050 event against a 1950 rated player and 1850 player. There was a 1400 rated player too.
The 1950 rated player was a defense and attack player. From both the wings he chopped with heavy side spin. This gave me tremendous problem – it was spiny under-spin. He does not attack much. He trapped me in my forehand with tennis style serves – one of the hardest serves to take. Two of our games went to dues, but I beat him 3 to 1. He took one game. In that game he was leading 5 to 1, but I’ve made that game closer. That game reminded me of how badly I played – no concentration and focus.
The game against the 1850 player was really boring. He is at least 60 years old with long pips on his back hand and almost a dead rubber on the forehand – his blade also looked patched up. He beat me 3 to 0. In two games, I was leading by at least 4 points. All the balls that that came from his pips are dead balls, not under-spin and it was so slippery – he is using Yasaka Phantom. I was able to loop and get many points against him, but my boring mind forced me to lose. In the first game, he tried to hit many of my chops but he could not. He stopped hitting and went into to complete defensive mode. To take points against me, he served deep from his long pips to my long pips – all my returns went into the air. He took advantage of that situation to get points. My strategy of winning against such players is to looping. Unfortunately, I did not do that except for winning few points.
Before I went out to play against the 1400 player, my wife reminded me that I’m playing horribly and I have to move well to win against this young player. I will never underestimate a lower rated player than me because these young guys practice for months before coming to events like US Open 2008. His dad and whole family was there. This boy moves fast and is a penholder too. All of our games closer, but I took the win 3 to 0. He had problem against many the spin variations I have put in for him to attack. He was mad few times when he could not hit my chops correctly. After the match, his dad came to me and wanted to play against me to figure out the depth of underspin that I generate. After few hits, I gave his dad some tips playing against a pips player like me.
My under 2600 match was against a 2500 rated player. He is the best defense and attack player in the US. He uses Hallmark Original in the backhand. Robert played very safely against me when I was leading in two games. He has very good serves. I’ve played to figure out how successfully I can loop against his back hand. Yes, I was able to loop but his deadly short chops to the backhand are so hard to return – lifting or pushing those heavy underspin is hard. I was watching Samson Dubina playing against Robert, and Samson had problem too against his short chops. Few times, I have tried to push him to an attack mode and I chopped his attacks. He could not loop my hard chops too. Honestly, I did not play to win against him. I can’t do that at this stage. He is the best player the US has ever seen. He is a good guy and I thanked him for the match.
I have met some coaches and players who use TSP products - they have high praises for the TSP Products. They were glad when they have heard that the TSP products are available in the US on http://www.TableTennisStore.US
I have met Alaxander Karakasevic, Chen Weixing, Tanja, Pathik (from India) and Mark Hazinsky - they are excited to win. Everybody here is predicting Alaxander will beat Chen Weixing. I have also heard that another world class defensive player from Dominican Replublic is here. I have practiced with the Indian team for 15 minutes and also Pathik. There are teams from Srilanka, Brazil and many countries here.
Today I’m playing in the under 2200 event. I feel little more confident today. I may able to move well today. But who knows? I will try.