Disclosure: WTT
Hugo Calderano returned to the table this Monday (6) to compete in the second round of Saudi Smash, a WTT event that brings together the main players in world table tennis. This time, facing Japanese Shunsuke Togami, the table tennis player from Brazil won by 3 sets to 2, with scores of 9-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-8 and 11-8. Thus, the Brazilian qualified for the round of 16 of the event.
The game
This Monday’s clash repeated the score from the last meeting between the players. On that occasion, at WTT Champions Incheon, in South Korea, Hugo Calderano also got the better of Togami 3-2. As expected, today’s duel maintained the balance between the athletes.
The first set started with the Japanese getting the better of the Brazilian. Right from the start, Togami opened 2-0 and managed to stay ahead of the scoreboard throughout the entire period. Calderano came close to equalizing after closing the gap to 9-10, but stopped there. In the next set, the Brazilian responded and won resoundingly by 11-5, without giving his opponent a chance.
Afterwards, Togami took the lead again with a 2-0 score. However, this time, Hugo managed to turn the score to 10-7. The Brazilian even had a set-point in his favor, but was unable to take advantage of it and let the partial slip away. Thus, Calderano needed to show resilience to turn the match around and stay alive in the competition.
Hugo’s overcoming started right away in the fourth set, when he took a 3-1 lead. The Brazilian managed to control the actions and was not behind the score for any moment in the partial, closing at 11-8. The decision then came down to the fifth and exciting set. Right away, Togami made it 4-1 and put Calderano on the ropes. But, like a good Brazilian, Hugo didn’t give up, and scored six points in a row to turn the score 7-4. Finally, the table tennis player from Brazil managed the advantage and closed the match at 11-8.
Seed at stake for Paris
With the result, Hugo Calderano will face the winner of the clash between Germans, Dang Qiu and Timo Boll. The match will be valid for the round of 16 of the Saudi Smash table tennis. Furthermore, it is worth highlighting that the Brazilian has another important objective in the event besides the title. This is because, if he reaches the semifinals of the tournament, he will become one of the top seeds at the Paris Olympics. A very important feat to escape the Chinese in the competition.
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25 years old from São Paulo. Graduating in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Passionate about sports.
